What Is Revolved Side Angle Pose – Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

The universe moves in myriad ways: curves, straight lines, ellipses, circles, and other ostensibly chaotic patterns. But when you stop to reflect upon the movement of things within and without yourself, the pattern you will most often encounter is the spiral. In Yoga, no asanas so plainly represent the essence of the spiral like twists do. Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana) is a powerful twist that challenges one’s strength, flexibility, presence of mind, and sense of balance.

Steps To Do Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana)

1.  To begin, get into Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Exhale and spread your legs 2½ to 3 feet apart. Place your hands on your hips; turn your left foot out to the left at a 90 degree angle. Now turn your right foot in a little to your left. Align your left heel with your right heel. As you firm your up thighs, turn your left thigh outward in such a way that the center of your kneecap is in line with the center of your left ankle.

2.  Take a deep breath and as you exhale, turn your torso to the left till you are facing directly out over your left leg. While doing this, lift your right heel off the mat and spin on the ball of your foot till your inner right foot is parallel to your inner left foot.

3.  Then, with another deep exhalation, bend your left knee. Keep the right leg active by pressing your thigh up toward the ceiling and stretching as much as possible through your right heel. However, you should resist the urge to lift your right thigh by pressing your tailbone toward your pubis.

4.  Now, with another deep exhalation, turn further to your left and press your torso down, placing your hand on the floor inside your left foot. Dig your left thumb into your right hip crease and push your thighbone down toward the floor.

5.  Hold the position for ½ a minute to 1 minute. Come up inhaling, then exhale and release the twist.

6.  Repeat the pose on the other side, reversing the position of your feet and for the same length of time to the left, then return to Tadasana (Mountain Pose).

Benefits Of Revolved Side Angle Pose (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana)

• The Revolved Side Angle Pose stretches and strengthens the groin, legs, hamstrings

• It throws open the shoulders and chest

• It also helps cleanse the internal organs

• The regular practice helps increase stamina, improve digestion and aid elimination, thereby curing chronic constipation

It has been proven very effective in curing chronic lower backache, sciatica, osteoporosis and infertility
Contraindications:

• Revolved Side Angle Pose is best avoided during headaches, by patients of high or low blood pressure, a history of insomnia and chronic neck problems