Hasta Vinyasas
Hasta Vinyasas (
The Hasta Vinyasas are: Parshvabhaga (Lateral Side Movement), Purvabhaga (Frontal Stretch), Prasarana (Sweeping Movement), Elbow Movement, Hands on Shoulder Blades Movements, Hands-Lock Behind Movements, Prishtanjali (Back Salute), and Shoulder Rotations.[2]
Etymology
Hasta Vinyasa is derived from
Below is a table of the Sanskrit etymology of the Hasta Vinyasas.
English Translation | IAST | Devanagari | Literal Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
Lateral Side Movement | Pārśvabhāga Vinyāsa | पार्श्वभाग विन्यास | side part[5] |
Frontal Stretch | Pūrvabhāga Vinyāsa | पूर्वभाग विन्यास | front part[6] |
Sweeping Movement | Prasaraṇa Vinyāsa | प्रसरण विन्यास | spreading forth, broadcast[7] |
Elbow Movement | – | – | – |
Hands on Shoulder Blades Movements | – | – | – |
Hands Lock Behind Body Movements | – | – | – |
Reverse Prayer[8] or Back Salute[9] Movement | Paścima Namaskāra Vinyāsa or Pṛṣṭa Añjali |
पश्चिम नमस्कारा or पृष्ट आञ्जलि |
reverse prayer pose[10][11][9] |
Shoulder Rotations | – | – | – |
Description
As vinyasas which have Tadasana as their base, the Hasta Vinyasas improve balance, and calm the mind (which also helps to produce a steady body) and ready a practitioner for asana practice.[12] Simultaneously the movement of the Hasta Vinyasas help invigorate the body and prepare it for other asana practice. [13]
When performing these vinyasas, all
Additionally, pranayama is of utmost importance during vinyasa practice. Breath and movement should be coordinated appropriately.[1]
Parshvabhaga Vinyasa
The starting position for Parshvabhaga Vinyasa is
Purvabhaga Vinyasa
Like Purvabhaga Vinyasa begins in Samasthitiḥ, but the hands are turned so the palms face backwards. As in Parshvabhaga Vinyasa, the arms are raised slow with the inhale. At the peak, the palms face forward. The breath may be held for a moment, before lowering the arms with the exhale; both breath and movement finishing simultaneously. This vinyasa can be performed a few times, progressively deepening the stretch. [14]
Prasarana Vinyasa
From a standing position (as in Samasthitiḥ) with the arms crossed palms on opposite thighs, swing the arms slowly out and up to shoulder height on their respective sides, hold for a moment, and return the hands. The movement, as with Parshvabhaga Vinyasa and Purvabhaga Vinyasa, is done inhaling up, and exhaling down, the motions beginning and ending with their appropriate breath. It can also be repeated a few times. Prasarana Vinyasa is a good chest opener, especially when breathing deeply.[13]
Elbow Movement
The Elbow Movement involves interlocking the fingers behind the base of the head (at the neck), with the arms raised and out to the sides. From standing (Samasthitiḥ) the arms are first raised above the head on the inhale, and then lowered on the exhale (fingers interlocked) to their place behind the head, with the chest open and shoulder blades
Hands on Shoulder Blades Movements
There are two main "Hands on Shoulder Blades" hand positions. One with the hands on their respective shoulderblades, and the other with the hands on their opposite shoulder blades. Both positions are entered in the same way. From Samasthitiḥ, on the inhale, the hands are raised over the head, as in Parshvabhaga Vinyasa, and with the exhale the elbows are bent and the hands are brought behind the back (to their appropriate position). The position is held for between three and six full breaths (where one breath equals one inhale, and one exhale). To return to Samasthitiḥ, the arms are again raised on an inhale, and returned as in Parshvabhaga Vinyasa to the sides. Both movements open the chest, notably the
Hands Lock Behind Body Movements
These are two different positions: One with the hands interlaced palms down behind the body, and the other with the hands at the elbows behind the body. They can both be practiced with minor back bends. Both are entered in the same way (as with other Hasta Vinyasas): From Samasthitiḥ, raise the hands on an inhale as in Parshvabhaga Vinyasa, and lower with the exhale to the appropriate hand position. When exiting these positions, the hands are simply returned to the sides (to Samasthitiḥ) and not brought back up above the head.[9]
Hands at Elbows Behind the Body
One hand clasps the elbow from the inside (palm on the side of the elbow which is toward the body), and the other under the opposite bent elbow. When practiced as an Hasta Vinyasa, a minor back-bend can be performed starting on an inhale after entering the pose. When back-bending, the chest is lifted, shoulders dropped, and shoulder blades brought inward. There is then a pause with the breath held for a moment, and on the exhale one returns to standing (or
Hands Interlaced Palms Down
In the position the fingers are interlaced with the palms facing downward, arms behind the back. A back bend is initiated on the inhale, with care taken to lift the chest up, and bring the shoulders down (adducting the scapula). The posture is held for three to six breaths before returning with an exhale to a standing position. This position stretches the chest, and facilitates back-bending.[9]
Reverse Prayer Vinyasa
When performing
Shoulder Rotation Vinyasas
There are two Hasta Vinyasas for shoulder rotation: One is a back bend with hands over the head, followed by a simultaneous return to standing, and movement of the arms toward the front. The other is an arm movement lowering the arms and from above the head, and then opening horizontally to the sides.[18]
Back Bending Shoulder Rotation
Beginning with the fingers interlaced (palms out) above the head (as at the apex of Parshvabhaga Vinyasa), a back-bend is performed on the inhale. On the following exhale, the arms are brought around the sides to the front in an arc, ending palms up in front of the body.[18]
Upright Shoulder Rotation
With the hands beginning above the head, palms facing forward, roughly shoulder width apart (as at the apex of Purvabhaga Vinyasa), the arms are lowered on an exhale to shoulder level (ending with the palms down).[18]
Style of Yoga
The Hasta Vinyasas originate from
References
- ^ a b c Ramaswami 2005, p. 4.
- ^ Ramaswami 2005, pp. 4–10.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de: हास्त Entry". Retrieved 2012-04-07.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de: विन्यास Entry". Retrieved 2012-04-07.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de: पार्श्वभाग Entry". Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de: पूर्वभाग". Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- ^ "SpoekSanskrit.de". Retrieved 2012-04-07.
- ^ Fitz-Simon 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Ramaswami 2005, p. 8.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de: पृष्ट Entry". Retrieved 2012-04-11.
- ^ "SpokenSanskrit.de: आञ्जलि Entry". Retrieved 2012-04-11.
- ^ Ramaswami 2005, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d Ramaswami 2005, p. 6.
- ^ a b Ramaswami 2005, p. 5.
- ^ Kaminoff 2007, pp. 25–26.
- ^ Coulter 2001, p. 102.
- ^ Ramaswami 2005, p. 7.
- ^ a b c Ramaswami 2005, p. 9.
External links
Sources
- ISBN 978-1-56924-402-9.
- ISBN 978-0-7360-6278-7.
- Coulter, H. David (2001). Anatomy of Hatha Yoga. Body and Breath. ISBN 978-0-9707006-0-5.
- Fitz-Simon, Witold (2010). "Arm Variations: Pashchima Namaskarasana". Yoga Art and Science. Retrieved 2012-04-02.