Virabhadrasana
Virabhadrasana (
Virabhadrasana has been described as one of the most iconic poses in yoga.
Etymology and origins
The name is from the
Poses close to Virabhadrasana were described independently of yoga in a European source early in the 20th century, namely in
Mythology
One version of the myth of
- Virabhadra's first aspect, Virabhadrasana I, is his arrival, with swords in both hands, thrusting his way up through the earth from below.[9]
- In his second aspect, Virabhadrasana II, he sights his opponent, Daksha.[9]
- And in his third aspect, Virabhadrasana III, moving swiftly and precisely, he decapitates Daksha with his sword.[9]
Shiva then arrives at the yagna and sees the rout that Virabhadra had wrought. Shiva absorbs Virabhadra back into his own form and then transforms into Hara, the ravisher. Filled with sorrow and compassion, Shiva finds Daksha's body and gives it the head of a goat, which brings him back to life. In the end Sati is also reborn.[9]
Description
The poses can be entered from a standing position, Tadasana, jumping or stepping the feet wide apart. For Virabhadrasana I, the hips are turned to face the front foot, which is turned fully outwards; the back foot is turned halfway inwards. The body sinks down into a lunge until the front knee is bent to a right angle, the back leg remaining straight, and the back foot working to keep the whole of the sole of the foot on the floor. The arms are stretched straight upwards, the back is slightly arched, and the gaze is directed upwards.[1][10]
For Virabhadrasana II, starting from Tadasana, the feet are spread wide, the front foot is turned fully out, and the back foot is turned in very slightly. The body remains facing forwards, so the hips remain in line with the feet, the body sinks down into a lunge until the front knee is bent at a right angle, and the arms are extended fully with the palms down, at shoulder level. The gaze is directed straight forward over the front hand.[1][11][10]
For Virabhadrasana III, a more difficult pose requiring strength and balance, again starting from Tadasana, the feet are arranged as for Virabhadrasana I. The trunk is turned fully to face the front foot, with the arms extended straight forwards, the gaze straight forwards, the trunk horizontal and one leg stretched back and also horizontal.[1][11][12]
It is possible to enter Vīrabhadrasana using
Virabhadrasana has been called "easily one of the most iconic and recognizable postures" in yoga as exercise,[15] as well as "one of the most foundational" and most widely practised.[16]
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Virabhadrasana I class in Nepal
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Virabhadrasana II
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Virabhadrasana III
Variations
Baddha Virabhadrasana, Humble Warrior Pose (Sanskrit बद्ध Baddha, "bound") is a variant of Virabhadrasana I, with the body bent down low over the front leg, and the arms raised vertically above the back, the fingers interlaced.[17][18]
Viparita Virabhadrasana, Reverse Warrior Pose (Sanskrit विपरीत viparīta, "reversed"[19][20]), is a variant of Virabhadrasana II, with the upper body and forward arm tilted backwards. The lower arm may be stretched down the rear leg, or it may reach round the back to the opposite hip. The pose is not found in B. K. S. Iyengar's 1966 textbook Light on Yoga, and may have been created as recently as the start of the 21st century.[21][22]
The arm position in Virabhadrasana III can be varied; the arms may be held straight out to the sides, or straight back along the sides of the body, or the hands may be held in
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Humble Warrior Pose, Baddha Virabhadrasana, a variant of Virabhadrasana I[17]
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Reverse Warrior Pose, Viparita Virabhadrasana, a modern variant of Virabhadrasana II[21]
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Virabhadrasana III variant with arms out to sides and back arched
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Virabhadrasana III variant with hands in reverse prayer position on the lower back
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Iyengar 1979, pp. 69–74.
- ^ Anon (12 April 2017). "Warrior I Pose". Yoga Journal. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Cave 16". The Ellora Caves. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Cave 29". The Ellora Caves. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- OCLC 57431189.
- ^ "Virabhadrasana or Warrior Pose". Bahiranga.com. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ OCLC 467899046.
- OCLC 318191988.
- ^ a b c d e Iyengar 1979, pp. 69–70.
- ^ a b Mehta 1990, pp. 26–29.
- ^ a b Lidell 1983, p. 150.
- ^ Mehta 1990, pp. 32–33.
- ^ Hughes, Aimee. "Sun Salutation A Versus Sun Salutation B: The Difference You Should Know". Yogapedia.
- ^ "Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose 1) Tutorial". Vinyasa Yoga School. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-85701-163-3.
- ^ "Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose 1) Tutorial". Vinyasa Yoga School. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Humble Warrior / Baddha Virabhadrasana". Ekhart Yoga. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Baddha Virabhadrasana". Yogapedia. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Reverse Warrior Pose - Viparita Virabhadrasana". Gaia. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Reverse Warrior". Yoga Basics. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ a b McCrary, Meagan (15 July 2015). "#YJ40: 10 Poses Younger Than Yoga Journal". Yoga Journal.
Reverse Warrior You won't find this playful variation of Warrior II Pose in Light on Yoga.
- Huffington Post. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Warrior III Pose". Yoga Journal. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ Savage, Jenny. "Beginner tips for Warrior 3 pose". Ekhart Yoga. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ISBN 978-0738219363.
Sources
- Unwin Paperbacks.
- Lidell, Lucy, The )
- Mehta, Silva; Mehta, Mira; Mehta, Shyam (1990). )