Does anybody have a name for this posture?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

You sit with your legs apart, with the soles of your feet on the floor.
Then you stretch your body forward, keeping your legs in position.
For the position to be effective, your butt needs to remain on the floor throughout the stretch.

It is good for stretching the hamstrings and lower back, and is especially useful as a preparation to enter the knot.

It is one I derived myself, but I am fairly sure that I also saw it depicted once on a yoga site (or possibly a yoga book.)
But I have never found it again.
Nobody has been able to tell me what the name of this posture is.

It looks something like this wire model:
www [dot] fabstuff.net/products/274 *

I guess it could be considered a variation of Upavistha-Konasana, but it doesn’t provide the same muscular stimulation.
Upavistha-K. has never helped me prepare for the knot, but this position has.

I have dubbed it “the panther”, as it is a name for it that makes sense to me, (the position is like a sitting cat) but I would like to know what its name is supposed to be.

Thank you. :smiley:

*It won’t let me post the link. :frowning: I do understand the precaution, but the picture helps illustrate what I am asking.

#2

Is this the “knot” you are referring to?

#3

Yes, that is the knot I am refering to.
That man is someone I have encountered on contortionistsunite.ning, actually. I would provide a link to my profile on that site, but the system won’t let me. :-?

#4

You realize of course that contortionism and Yoga and not even remotely related, right?

#5

“related” through ancestry and original intent is different from “related” through current application. The beautiful light and heat of the sun wasn’t related to politics-through-death until we packaged an H-bomb.
Slythyr, I’m glad you found a wonderful stretch for your body. I don’t think it’s a yoga pose, and it might not have any more subtle application (as in, other koshas).

Is contortionism part of your yoga, or are asanas part of your contortionism?

#6

Of course asanas are related to contortion!

Asanas are the foundation of my contortion.
My approach to contortion is yogic.

Anyway, the position that I am referring to is NOT the knot, it is a position I have found useful to do BEFORE entering the knot, and I thought it may be a classified asana.
It is part of MY asanas, at least!

Thank you for your answers so far.

#7

InnerAthlete, for your information the knot is an extremely advanced asana, but it is very well a part of yoga.

When acheived, it is extremely comfortable, and it is an alternative to the lotus position, as a position of meditation.
Just because it is too advanced for you, or you are not familiar with it does not mean that it is not a part of yoga.
I am sorry that you fail to realize yoga is not limited to what you know of it.

I am on this site to learn as well as to inform.

It seems you are on this site to blast people with your opinion. That is not especially gentle or tranquil, so I am wondering which aspect of your yoga is amiss.
Having tranquility in your life will overflow into how you address people.

I hope that you find real tranquility in your life, as that is yoga’s purpose. 8)

#8

Is your posture Sthira sukham? Steady and comfortable? Are you aware of yourself in it? Then it doesn’t matter what its called.

#9

Thank you Suryadaya. It is that. I agree in a way, but it would be good to know its name for when I am descirbing it to other people.

Maybe I took I.Athlete’s post too critically…
Anyway, it is awesome dealing with people who are coming from different places with their own views and their own personalities! It is what makes the world a great place to be!

#10

I have always seen this as the starting point to Kurmasana (turtle). I would have been inclined to call this one ardha kurmasana (half turtle) but google images doesn’t agree :stuck_out_tongue: