Matsyasana ( sa, मत्स्यासन;

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...

: ''Matsyāsana'') or Fish pose is a reclining back-bending

asana An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose,Verse 46, chapter II, "Patanjali Yoga sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda, published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math p. 111 and later extended in hatha yoga ...

hatha yoga Haṭha yoga is a branch of yoga which uses physical techniques to try to preserve and channel the vital force or energy. The Sanskrit word हठ ''haṭha'' literally means "force", alluding to a system of physical techniques. Some haṭha ...

and 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 ...

. It is commonly considered a counterasana to

Sarvangasana Sarvangasana ( sa, सर्वाङ्गासन, translit=sarvāṅgāsana), Shoulder stand, or more fully Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulder stand), is an inverted asana in modern yoga as exercise; similar poses were used in medieval ...

, or shoulder stand, specifically within the context of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Primary Series.

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words ''matsya'' (मत्स्य) meaning "fish" and ''asana'' (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat". The asana is medieval, described in the 17th century '' Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā'' 2.21.

Description

The asana is a

backbend A backbend is a gymnastics, contortion, dance and ice skating move, where the spine is bent backwards, and catching oneself with the hands. Throughout the move, the abdominal muscles, obliques, and legs are used to steady the performer while curv ...

, where the practitioner lies on his or her back and lifts the heart (

anahata Anahata ( sa, अनाहत, IAST: , en, "unstruck") or heart chakra is the fourth primary chakra, according to Hindu Yogic, Shakta and Buddhist Tantric traditions. In Sanskrit, ''anahata'' means "unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten". ''Anaha ...

)

chakra Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...

by rising up on the elbows and drawing the shoulders back. The neck is lengthened, and the crown of the head

Sahasrara Sahasrara ( sa, सहस्रार, IAST: , en, "thousand-petalled", with many alternative names and spellings) or the crown chakra is considered the seventh primary chakra in some yoga traditions. Hatha yoga The Sahasrara is described ...

is "pointed" toward the 'wall' behind the practitioner. As the arch of the back deepens with practice, and the heart and throat open further, the top of the head may brush the ground, but no weight should rest upon it.

Variations

* The legs can be kept straight on the ground, or with knees bent and feet on the floor, for practitioners unable to do Padmasana with the legs. * The legs again straight can be lifted off the ground, for a "challenging variation". * The hands may be placed before the heart in

Añjali Mudrā Añjali Mudrā ( sa, अञ्जलि मुद्रा), is a hand gesture mainly associated with Indian religions and arts, encountered throughout Asia and beyond. It is a part of Indian classical dance postures such as Bharatanatyam, yoga p ...

, making the pose more difficult. The pose can be supported with a bolster under the back, and with a cushion under the knees.

References

External links

Matsyasana
{{Hatha yoga Reclining asanas Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas Backbend asanas

Etymology and origins

Description

Variations

References

Further reading

External links