Standing Poses
Parivrtta Parshvakonasana (Revolved Side Angle Pose)
Level: Advanced Beginners
Category: Standing Pose, Twist
Parivrtta = revolved. Parsva = side or flank. Kona = angle.
Organizing the Pose
• Come into Tadasana (Mountain Pose).
• Exhale, hop or step the feet apart into Utthita Hasta Padasana (Extended Hands and Feet Pose) and then take them further apart.
• Turn the right leg out and the left foot in to come into Parshva Hasta Padasana (Side Hands and Feet Pose).
• Bend the right leg and turn the trunk to face the right thigh.
• Inhale, and reach the left arm up, lengthening the left side of the trunk.
• Exhale and bring the left arm down on the outside of the left knee. Bring the hand to the floor or to a block.
• Let the back heel come up off the floor if it wants to, but keep reaching the heel across the body and down.
• Exhale and roll the trunk up towards the ceiling.
• Sweep the right arm out and up alongside the ear.
• Turn the head and look up through the right upper arm towards the ceiling.
• Hold the position for several breaths.
• To come up, ground down through the feet, inhale and windmill the arms and trunk to come back to Parshva Hasta Padasana (Side Hands and Feet Pose).
• Repeat on the other side.
• Exhale, hop or step the feet apart into Utthita Hasta Padasana (Extended Hands and Feet Pose) and then take them further apart.
• Turn the right leg out and the left foot in to come into Parshva Hasta Padasana (Side Hands and Feet Pose).
• Bend the right leg and turn the trunk to face the right thigh.
• Inhale, and reach the left arm up, lengthening the left side of the trunk.
• Exhale and bring the left arm down on the outside of the left knee. Bring the hand to the floor or to a block.
• Let the back heel come up off the floor if it wants to, but keep reaching the heel across the body and down.
• Exhale and roll the trunk up towards the ceiling.
• Sweep the right arm out and up alongside the ear.
• Turn the head and look up through the right upper arm towards the ceiling.
• Hold the position for several breaths.
• To come up, ground down through the feet, inhale and windmill the arms and trunk to come back to Parshva Hasta Padasana (Side Hands and Feet Pose).
• Repeat on the other side.