Parivritta-parshvakona-asana (The Turned Side-Angle Pose)

The Sanskrit word parivritta means revolved, turned round or back, parsva means side and kona means angle.

"As inumerable cups full of water, many reflections of the sun are seen, but the sun is the same; similarly individuals, like cups, are inumerable, but spirit, like the sun, is one." The Shiva-samhita I.35

Parivritta-parshvakona-asana (The Turned Side-Angle Posture)

Instruction:
1 Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides (see the tad-asana).
2 Inhale and spread your legs apart slightly further than shoulder distance (about 3-4 feet).
3 Stretch your arms straight out from the shoulders parallel to the floor with your palms facing down.
4 Exhale slowly and turn your right foot toward the right 90 degrees. Bend your right knee about 90 degrees.
5 Place the palm of your left hand flat on the floor next to the outside of your right foot. Rest the right elbow on the outside of the right knee.
6 Stretch the right arm over your head, parallel with the floor, with the inside of the elbow resting on the ear. Hold for abot 30-60 seconds while breathing gently through the nostrils.
7 Slowly return to a standing position and repeat on the other side reversing directions 2-6.

Comments:
The parivritta-parshvakona-asana stretches the muscle group along the side of the torso. It strengthens the ankles, claves and thighs as well as the arms. It is also an excellent posture to tone the muscles in the waist and hips. This posture also strengthens the digestive system and thus aids digestion, stimulates blood circulation and assists in restoring strength and flexibility to the spine.

Durations/Repetitions:
Hold the posture for as long as is comfortable. Performing the parivritta-purvashakona-asana once on each side is considered one repetition. Do 2 or 3 repetitions.

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