Vīrabhadrāsana

Common Variations

Common Modifications

“Some standing postures develop the legs, such as Ardha Utkāṭāsana.
This posture is like weight lifting.
Other postures like Vīrabhadrāsana will also help.
The principle is we must bring action to the area of the body we wish to improve.”
– TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Seven Page 106-7

“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.

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

– Bhāvana when working with Vīrabhadrāsana
Feet –
Front Leg Focus on Toes Down
Rear Leg Focus on Heel Down
Knees –
Front Knee Bent Forwards
Rear Knee Straightened Backwards
Hips –
Front Leg Hip Lifted Backwards
Rear Leg Hip Lifted Forwards
Shoulders –
Front Leg Shoulder Drawn Back
Rear leg Shoulder Drawn Forward
Spine –
Upper Back and Chest Arching Forwards
Resisting the Lower Back from Bending Backwards
(View Post or Download PDF Expanding these suggestions)
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design an Āsana practice that focuses on
– Vīrabhadrāsana and Upaviṣṭa Koṇāsana.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design and Experiment with an Āsana Practice around
– Vīrabhadrāsana – Repeat 4 times each side before Staying 4 Breaths each side
– Ardha Śalabhāsana – Repeating at least 8 times.”
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

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design and Experiment with Four Āsana Practices to use
Sālamba Bhujaṅgāsana and/or Nirālamba Bhujaṅgāsana to:
1. To strengthen and prepare the legs and back for Vīrabhadrāsana
2. As Pratikriyāsana to Halāsana
3. To prepare for staying in Dhanurāsana
4. To emphasise the work in Daṇḍāsana”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– 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
• Guidelines for skilful dynamics within the performance of Vīrabhadrāsana……
• Viniyoga Vignette 5 – Introducing Uḍḍīyana Bandha within an Āsana practice

–  Last Updated 11th April 2022