Jun 30, 2019
Progress, not perfection ✨💕
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Progress, not perfection ✨💕
What is Eight Angle Pose, Benefits
Eight Angle Pose, or Astavakrasana, comes from the Sanskrit words asta (eight), vakra (bent, curved), and asana (pose). Astavakrasana is dedicated to Sage Astavakra, the spiritual preceptor of King Janaka of Mithila.
The story goes that while still in his mother’s womb Astavakra heard his father reciting scriptures with errors and laughed. Upon being shamed by his unborn son the father cursed Astavakra. The curse caused him to be born deformed with eight bends and crooks in his body. Even so he was a very gifted child and was able to reach enlightenment.
Many years later his father entered a philosophical debate to win the favor of King Janaka, but lost. Astavakra traveled for nearly 30 days to avenge and free his father. When he arrived he took part in and won the philosophical debate. Astavakra became King Janaka’s preceptor, and his father was so proud that he took him to the holy river to lift the curse and heal his bent body.
This story represents the power of will and determination as well as forgiveness. To accomplish Eight Angle Pose one must remember that life is a delicate balance of pushing and pulling. One has to be able to navigate challenging situations by remaining calm and centered. And one has to find a way to be strong and rooted, yet still able to grow tall and long. All are necessary on the path of yoga.
You can channel the necessary strength for this pose by focusing on the manipura chakra (solar plexus), at the navel center. This chakra is where personal power, confidence, and determination reside. Physically this can be considered as core strength. By paying special attention to the deep core stabilizers, like the transverse abdominis, you can build up the necessary power to maintain Eight Angle Pose.
Astavakrasana has many components, it is an asymmetrical arm balancing pose that also asks for a deep twist and extension of the legs. You will need to be both strong and flexible in body and mind.
Ensure that you are properly warmed up prior to attempting Eight Angle Pose. Focus the warm up on core awareness through Phalakasana (high plank), add in shoulder and wrist strengthening with Chaturanga Dandasana (four limbed staff pose). Open the hips with Eka Pada Rajkapotasana (pigeon pose) and stretch the hamstrings with Uttanasana (standing forward fold). And include some twists like Parivritta Utkatasana (twisted chair pose) and Namaskar Parsvakonasana (prayer twist).
You can begin to explore this pose on your own using the cues below:
Begin seated in Dandasana (staff pose).
Hold the right foot, bend the leg and bring the knee over the right shoulder (or as close as you can get).
Bring the left leg up and across the body, hooking the left ankle over the right.
Place the hands down, left hand forward of the left hip and right hand inside the legs, forward of the right hip.
Press through the hands to lift yourself off of the floor. Play here with supporting yourself while keeping the ankles locked and legs lifted.
Once you feel stable begin to lengthen the legs to the right, using the right leg to pull the left across.
Shift the weight forward and bend the arms 90°.
Keep squeezing the legs together around your bicep and engage the core to keep yourself lifted.
Return to Dandasana (staff pose) and repeat on the other side.
You can modify the posture to your level of practice.
Add blocks under the hands. To give more room for the legs to bind and lift.
Bring a bolster under the hip. To rest the body weight while you work on finding the balance in the hands.
Eight Angle pose brings a sense of achievement and personal victory when accomplished. It can act as a stress reliever and helps to balance the nervous system. It increases oxygen supply to the brain bringing the practitioner mental clarity. This pose reverses the flow of apana vayu (governs waste elimination) which helps regulate the digestive functions.
By contracting the pelvic floor muscles the reproductive organs are provided with a supply of fresh blood. This posture keeps the body well toned, including the abdominal muscles, legs, arms, buttocks, hips, and sides of the back. With an overall toned body, there is lengthening of the spine, which helps in retaining the original shape of the spine.
There are many benefits to including Astavakrasana in your practice. But take note of a few contraindications before making it a regular addition.
Injury to shoulders or wrists.
Spinal injury.
Pregnancy.
Vertigo.
High blood pressure.
Eight Angle Pose is a challenging arm balance pose that helps to build endurance. Staying in balance is tricky and requires stamina. This pose helps to increase the power and energy in the body, preparing you for more challenging balance postures.
The Eight-Angle Pose, also known as Astavakrasana, focuses on building strength in your arms and wrists. This is a great position once you've mastered the Standing Forward Bend Pose, Bound Angle Pose, Four Limbed Staff Pose, and Extended Side Angle Pose.
The Eight-Angle Pose, also known as Astavakrasana, focuses on building strength in your arms and wrists. This is a great position once you’ve mastered the Standing Forward Bend Pose, Bound Angle Pose, Four Limbed Staff Pose, and Extended Side Angle Pose.
🧘♂️ Information:👉
👉Known as:👉 Eight-Angle Pose, Astavakrasana, Ashtavakrasana
2️⃣ Sanskrit name:👉 अष्टावक्रासन
3️⃣ IAST:👉 Aṣṭāvakrāsana
4️⃣ Pronunciation:👉 uh-shtuh-vuh-KRAHS-uh-nuh
5️⃣ Level:👉 Advanced
6️⃣ Type:👉 Arm balance, forward bend, twist
7️⃣ Total time:👉 30 to 60 seconds
8️⃣ Drishti:👉 Forward; Toes/feet (Padayoragrai or Padayoragre)
9️⃣ Chakra:👉 Manipura Chakra, Swadhisthana Chakra
🔟 Focus:👉 Arms
💡 Indication:👉 Abdominal organs
💡 Counterpose:👉 Child’s Pose (Balasana)
💡 Preparatory poses:👉 Uttanasana, Kapotasana, Chaturanga Dandasana, Baddha Konasana, Utthita Parsva Konasana, Eka Pada Utkatasana, Upavistha Konasana
💡 Follow-up poses:👉 Bhujapidasana (Shoulder pressing posture), Dwi Pada Bhujasana
💡 Contraindications:👉 Wrist, elbow, or shoulder injury, High Blood Pressure, Heart Ailments, Pregnant Women
Learn more: Eight-Angle Pose, Astavakrasana, Ashtavakrasana step-by-step
(via Soul Seed Yoga)
And of course, here it is in real time because I’m legit so stoked I finally figured this out. This pose used to piss me off so much, and I hated it, but ya girl’s got muscles now. #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #eightanglepose #astavakrasana https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAfhZdFaKa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y8bz5mi70s12
The look of pure joy on my face that is me realizing I can FINALLY do this pose after literal years struggling with it. 😍 . Also, someone called me their spirit animal in class today after I told a story that included glitter, and I might have erupted rainbows inside. That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! #youhaventliveduntilyouvebeencoveredinglitter #glitterlife #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #eightanglepose #astavakrasana https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAfYXXAc9s/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s62twvj7weyx
Eight Angle Pose doodle!