Uttanasana

Uttanasana

Uttanasana (OOH-tah-NAH-sah-nah)[needs IPA] (Sanskrit: उत्तानासन; IAST: uttānāsana), Intense Forward-Bending Pose, Intense Stretch Pose, Standing Forward Bend, Standing Forward Fold Pose, or Standing Head to Knees Pose is an asana.

Etymology

The name comes from the Sanskrit words Ud (उद्; ud) = prefix for verbs or nouns, indicating superiority in location, rank, power, intensity Tana (तान; tāna) = "stretched" Uttana (उत्तान; uttāna) = "intense stretch" or "straight" or "stretched", and Asana (आसन; āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".

Description

The asana consists of standing with feet together, then hinging forward from the hips, letting the head hang, with palms placed flat on the floor near the feet.

Murghasana - Advance version of Uttanasana

Yoga has an ancient history of ancient India. Most of the words are drived from Hindi Language. Murgha in Hindi means Cock/Hen. Murghasana is also called Hen Posture. In this variation the Yogi has to bend down, Pass arms between legs and hold her ear lobes with thumb and index fingers, in easy words, holding ears lobes while in uttanasana posture. This posture is very good for blood circulation on brain and face. It removes untimely wrinkles, sharps memory and brings glow to your face.

An average yogi can easily hold this posture up to 2-3 minutes but yogis with practice can increase their time up to 15minutes as well. Anatomical focus

The asana provides a complete stretch to the entire back of the body, particularly the hamstrings.

Contraindications and cautions

This asana has been criticized by some practitioners of kinesiology, physical therapy, and others, who recommend a seated rather than standing forward bend.

Alternative asana

Paschimottanasana is a safer, sitting variant of this frontbend which relies more upon active flexibility of the muscles in its later stages. It is more difficult to attain similar flexibility since gravity cannot passively aid the stretch as much as in Uttanasana. Once the hands are able to bear more and more weight in Uttanasana it becomes safer and the difference in safety and customizability becomes less. Although it could be argued that Paschimottasana is not a safe forward bend for the back as the pelvis can become locked and tight hamstrings add excessive pull on lower back via pelvic sit bones.

Variations

This asana has a very large number of variations and associated techniques.

• Ardha Uttanasana (Sanskrit: अर्धउत्तानासन; IAST: ardhauttānāsana)
• Niralamba Uttanasana
• Parsva Bhaga Uttanasana
• Purna Uttanasana
• Tiryang-Mukha Uttanasana