“Exploration by real people inspires us” - Stephen Hawking
Asana practice is a dance with gravity. If you change the body’s relationship with gravity even slightly, the work – and even the intent – of the posture can change significantly. The ability to perform a posture on different planes has long fascinated me, and has remained one of my favorite elements of yoga asana. By exploring the posture on multiple planes, we gain a deeper understanding of and ability to perform the foundational pose.
Below is a series of photographs all demonstrating Utthita Trikonasana, extended triangle pose. As the plane that the posture is performed on changes, many other things change: the posture’s name, level of difficulty, anatomical focus, etc. But at its core the pose is still Utthita Trikonasana. The outward form changes, but the essence remains. This can be done with any number of postures; I simply chose Utthita Trikonasana because the pose intrigues me.
Asana practice is a dance with gravity. If you change the body’s relationship with gravity even slightly, the work – and even the intent – of the posture can change significantly. The ability to perform a posture on different planes has long fascinated me, and has remained one of my favorite elements of yoga asana. By exploring the posture on multiple planes, we gain a deeper understanding of and ability to perform the foundational pose.
Below is a series of photographs all demonstrating Utthita Trikonasana, extended triangle pose. As the plane that the posture is performed on changes, many other things change: the posture’s name, level of difficulty, anatomical focus, etc. But at its core the pose is still Utthita Trikonasana. The outward form changes, but the essence remains. This can be done with any number of postures; I simply chose Utthita Trikonasana because the pose intrigues me.
B.K.S Iyengar in Utthita Trikonasana - The back leg is in more of an internal rotation, the front leg is in external rotation. Both the arms and legs are straight. Note the symmetry of the right and left side of his torso.
Richard Freeman in Utthita Trikonasana - Note that Freeman is holding his big toe, this is the way the pose is presented in the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system.
Matthew Sweeney in Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (lateral or 2) - This is basically Utthita Trikonasana rotated clockwise. The back leg (internally rotated) becomes the standing leg and the front leg (externally rotated) is now unsupported.
B.K.S Iyengar in Ardha Chandrasana - This is essentially Utthita Trikonasana rotated counter clockwise. The front leg (externally rotated) is now the standing leg and the back leg (internally rotated) is unsupported.
Kino Macgregor in Supta Padangustasana (lateral or 2) - The posture is no longer a standing pose but becomes a supine leg stretch. This posture brings a lot of awareness to the back of the body due to it's contact with the floor.
B.K.S. Iyengar in Anantasana - We return to the lateral plane but the posture is performed in side lying position.
Dharma Mittra in Vasisthasana 2 - Here the posture is performed as an arm balance in the lateral plane. The internally rotated leg is in contact with the floor, the externally rotated leg is lifted towards the sky. The work of the shoulders and buttocks can be refined in this posture.
B.K.S. Iyengar in Eka Pada Koundinyasana 2 - The shape of the legs is most definitely Utthita Trikonasana but posture is an arm balance in the frontal plane. The externally rotated leg is resting on the arm, the internally rotated leg is unsupported.
B.K.S. Iyengar in Parsvaika Pada Sirasana - Utthita Trikonasana as a headstand! The externally rotated leg is in contact with the floor. It is extremely difficult to keep the sides of the spine equal length in this variation.
Simon Borg Olivier in Parsvaika Pada Sirasana (variation) - Here you see Simon has taken hold of the foot of the externally rotated leg. Simon has most likely done this because he’s a total baller and enjoys doing nauli kriya in one armed headstands.
B.K.S. Iyengar in Parsvaika Pada Sarvangasana - Utthita Trikonasana in shoulderstand! The externally rotated leg is in contact with the floor.
A young Simon Borg Olivier performing Utthita Trikonasana while suspended from a rope. I'm especially curious about the threading of the rope between the first and second toes.
