Navasana (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: नावासन; IAST: nāvāsana), Naukasana, Boat Pose, or Paripurna Navasana ( sa, परिपूर्णनावासन; IAST: ''paripūrṇanāvāsana'' "Full Boat Pose") is a seated asana in modern

yoga as exercise Yoga as exercise is a physical activity consisting mainly of postures, often connected by flowing sequences, sometimes accompanied by breathing exercises, and frequently ending with relaxation lying down or meditation. Yoga in this form has ...

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words परिपूर्ण paripurna meaning "full", नाव ''nava'' meaning "boat" and आसन ''asana'' meaning "posture" or "seat". The pose was illustrated in the 19th century ''

Sritattvanidhi The ''Sritattvanidhi'' (, "The Illustrious Treasure of Realities") is a treatise written in the 19th century in Karnataka on the iconography and iconometry of divine figures in South India. One of its sections includes instructions for, and ill ...

'' under the name ''Naukāsana'', also meaning boat pose.

Description

To enter the pose from sitting, the knees are bent, and the body's weight is shifted back until the soles of the feet lift off the ground. In the pose, the body is balanced on the sitting bones, not leaning right back on to the tailbone. The spine is lengthened to broaden and lift the chest. Preparatory poses for Navasana include the standing poses Utkatasana and

Uttanasana Uttanasana ( sa, उत्तानासन; ) or Standing Forward Bend, with variants such as Padahastasana where the toes are grasped, is a standing forward bending asana in modern yoga as exercise. Etymology and origins The name comes from ...

, and the seated pose Dandasana.

Variations

Variations include the easier Ardha Navasana ( sa, अर्धनावासन "Half Boat Pose") with feet and body only half-raised. The more difficult Ubhaya Padangusthasana has both hands grasping the toes or feet. File:Ardha-Navāsana.JPG, Ardha Navasana File:Project Yoga Richmond 1 Ubhaya Padangusthasana.jpg, Ubhaya Padangusthasana,
holding toes or ankles

Etymology and origins

Description

Variations

References

Further reading