What Is An Open Angle Yoga Pose (Upavishtha Konasana)

An open angle pose is known as Upavishtha Konasana. It is good for wide-leg standing poses and all the seated forward twists and bends. Upavishtha means the sitting state, while Kona is an angle. This is an open angle pose in the seated position. Good for detoxifying the kidney, this pose heals sciatica and arthritis.

How To Do An Open Angle Pose:

• First you have to be seated in the stick pose or the Dandasana, then lean back slightly on your hands. Lift your legs and open them to an angle of 90 degrees, forming a right angle. Press your palms on the yoga mat and slowly slide your buttocks forward. While you do so, you have to open your legs to another 10-20 degrees.

• Slowly rotate your thighs in the outward direction, pressing them against the floor. Your knee caps should be pointing towards the ceiling. Now stretch your soles while pressing the balls of your feet.

• You should now be positioned in such a manner that your thigh bones should press firmly into the floor, with the knee caps facing towards the ceiling. At the same time inch your hands forward, but keep them between the legs. Allow your arms to extend completely. Anyone who is familiar with forward bends will notice that here too there is a stress on movement from the hip joints, while with regard to the front torso, the length should be maintained. Do not allow yourself to bend from the waist and if you notice this happening, stop and re-align and try to maintain the length from pubis to navel. If possible continue forward.

• As you exhale, you might like to increase the forward bend. Do these till you feel comfortable and can feel the stretch in your legs.

• Stay like this for at least a minute.

Tips For Beginners:

• If you’re doing this pose for the first time, then take a thick blanket and keep it on the floor in front of you. You can use this as a prop while doing the posture.

Precautions:

• If you have some injury or pain in your lower back, you can sit on a folded blanket and keep your torso straight and upright.

Difficulties While Doing An Open Angle Pose:

• You might encounter tightness in your hamstrings, which might cause problems when you widen your legs.

• You might feel tightness in your lower back and in the back of your legs.

Benefits Of An Open Angle Pose:

• This pose is good for opening up the hips.

• It stretches the back, arms and the legs.

• It energizes the abdominal organs and releases the groin.

• It stretches as well as strengthens the spine.

• It calms the mind.

• This pose is good for people suffering from sciatica and arthritis.

• It is good for detoxification.