Parśva Uttānāsana

“A great number of postures, notably most standing postures,
have doubtless come to us directly from the Professor,
who would have introduced them as appropriate
to the needs of modern times.
Amongst the standing postures, Uttānāsana, Parśva Uttānāsana,
Utthita Trikoṇāsana and Utthita Parśva Koṇāsana,
are examples which the Professor himself codified.”
– Claude Maréchal was a  student of TKV Desikachar from 1969-2002.
This is an extract from Claude talking about what
Desikachar told him about his father, Krishnamacharya.

“When bending towards the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if rounding from the lower back,
before ultimately rounding from the upper back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on exhaling from Apāna Sthāna towards Prāṇa Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the lower abdomen towards the upper chest.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When moving away from the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if arching from the arms and upper back,
before ultimately arching from the lower back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on inhaling from Prāṇa Sthāna towards Apāna Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the upper chest towards the lower abdomen.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“The intelligent leg is the back leg.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Bhāvana for the Hips in Parśva Uttānāsana
‘When moving into Parśva Uttānāsana.
Lift the forward leg hip up and
draw the rear leg hip forward.
When coming up from Parśva Uttānāsana.
Keep the forward leg hip lifted and
the rear leg hip drawn forward.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Bhāvana on the rear leg when moving in and out of Parśva Uttānāsana
“In keeping with the Bhāvana in Parśva Uttānāsana
around the intelligent leg being the rear leg.
Consider when entering and leaving the pose dynamically
paying attention to the rear leg remaining a working leg;
within the tendency for the front leg to increasingly
become the supporting leg as the body lowers and
the bracing leg as the trunk is raised upwards.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Short and Longer Term prerequisites for
“Bakāsana or Parśva  Bakāsana
include:
Utkaṭāsana
Adho Mukha Śvanāsana
Caturaṅga Daṇḍasana
Nirālamba Śīrṣāsana
Viparīta Vṛkṣāsana”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“The longer term measure of our Prāṇāyāma
potential is determined by our skilful efforts
within all four components of the breath in Āsana.
For example, can we maintain a ratio of 8.8.8.8.
in Parśva Uttānāsana or 12.6.18.12 in Mahāmudrā?”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design and Experiment with an Āsana Practice around
– Parśva Uttānāsana  – Repeat 4 times and Stay 4 Breaths
– Janu Śīrṣāsana – Repeat 4 times and Stay 4 Breaths”
To Download or view this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
To Download or View a Sample Practice Response as a PDF
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

Links to Related Posts:

• Glossary of Āsana and Mudrā Practice Techniques
  – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Viniyoga
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Vinyāsa Krama
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Pratikriyāsana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on the Breath
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Śikṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Rakṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Cikitsā
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Laṅghana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Bṛṃhaṇa

–  Last Updated 11th April 2022