Trivikramasana (
Sanskrit: त्रिविक्रमासन) or the standing splits is a
standing asana in
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 ...
.
Etymology and origins
The name of this pose comes from
Trivikrama
Vamana (), also known as Trivikrama (), Urukrama (), Upendra (), Dadhivamana (), and Balibandhana () is an Dashavatara, avatar of the Hinduism, Hindu deity Vishnu. He is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, and the first Dashavatara in the Treta Yug ...
, a figure in Hindu mythology whose name means "three strides", and "asana" meaning "posture" or "seat".
The pose is ancient, being one of those depicted in the 13th - 18th century statues of
Bharatnatyam dance that decorate the Eastern
Gopuram of the
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.
A pose named Trivikramasana is illustrated in the 19th century ''
Sritattvanidhi'', but the yoga scholar Norman Sjoman notes that the illustration depicts a different standing balance,
Durvasasana
Durvasasana (Sanskrit: दुर्वासासन) or Durvasana, is an advanced standing asana in hatha yoga.
Etymology and origins
The pose is named after Durvasa (दुर्वासा), a proverbially angry sage.
The 18th century '' ...
.
Description and variations
In the standing pose, one leg is stretched straight up beside the body and the ankle is grasped with one hand. The other arm is stretched straight out sideways.
The reclining form of the pose (supine splits) is ''Supta Trivikramasana''.
In ''
Light on Yoga
''Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika'' (Sanskrit: योग दीपिका, "Yoga Dīpikā") is a 1966 book on the Iyengar Yoga style of modern yoga as exercise by B. K. S. Iyengar, first published in English. It describes more than 200 yoga postur ...
'',
B. K. S. Iyengar
Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (14 December 1918 – 20 August 2014) was an Indian teacher of yoga and author. He is founder of the style of yoga as exercise, known as " Iyengar Yoga", and was considered one of the foremost yoga guru ...
marks it as a difficult pose at level 39.
See also
*
Durvasasana
Durvasasana (Sanskrit: दुर्वासासन) or Durvasana, is an advanced standing asana in hatha yoga.
Etymology and origins
The pose is named after Durvasa (दुर्वासा), a proverbially angry sage.
The 18th century '' ...
, a similar standing pose with one leg behind the neck
References
{{Hatha yoga
Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas
One-legged asanas