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Ustrasana ( sa, उष्ट्रासन; IAST: ''Uṣṭrāsana''), Ushtrasana, or Camel Pose is a kneeling back-bending asana in modern
Ustrasana is a deep backward bend from a kneeling position; the completed pose has the hands on the heels. The backs of the feet may be flat on the floor, or the toes may be tucked under for a slightly less strong backbend.
The pose is one of the 26 asanas in the
Ustrasana ( sa, उष्ट्रासन; IAST: ''Uṣṭrāsana''), Ushtrasana, or Camel Pose is a kneeling back-bending 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 उष्ट्र Uṣṭra, "camel", and आसन, Asana meaning "posture" or "seat". A different (standing) pose is given the name Ushtrasana 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 ...
''. The modern pose is described in the 20th century by two of Krishnamacharya's pupils, Pattabhi Jois in his Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and B. K. S. Iyengar in his '' Light on Yoga''.
Description
Ustrasana is a deep backward bend from a kneeling position; the completed pose has the hands on the heels. The backs of the feet may be flat on the floor, or the toes may be tucked under for a slightly less strong backbend.
The pose is one of the 26 asanas in the Bikram Yoga
Bikram Yoga is a system of hot yoga, a type of yoga as exercise, devised by Bikram Choudhury and based on the teachings of B. C. Ghosh, that became popular in the early 1970s. Classes consist of a fixed sequence of 26 postures, practised in a ro ...
sequence.
Variations
The name Ardha Ustrasana, Half Camel pose, is given to two different poses. One is an easier modification with the hands on the hips; the other has one hand on the heel on the same side, as in the full pose, and the other arm stretched back over the head. The pose can be modified by providing supports such asyoga brick
A yoga brick or yoga block is a smooth block of wood or of firm but comfortable material, such as hard foam rubber or cork, used as a prop in yoga as exercise.
The use of wooden bricks to assist in alignment was introduced by B. K. S. Iyengar, ...
s beside the calves for the hands.
See also
*List of asanas
An asana is a body posture, used in both medieval hatha yoga and modern yoga. The term is derived from the Sanskrit word for 'seat'. While many of the oldest mentioned asanas are indeed seated postures for meditation, asanas may be standing, seat ...
References
Sources
* * {{Yoga as exercise Backbend asanas