Supta Utthita Parsvakonasana is second in my series of supine standing poses, which will help you immediately identify where your conditioned, unconscious holding patterns reside in your body. The physical, energetic, and mental yoga actions provided with each pose will assist you in diminishing the old unserving patterns and create new positive habits that promote a more balanced experience of stability and ease.
For Supta Utthita Parsvakonasana, place a low block under the heel of your back foot. Bend into your front leg (90-degree angle, if possible). For this side-bending pose, extend your front hand and arm in a diagonal line with your back leg. This should allow the space needed to roll your breastbone and rib cage toward the ceiling. Stay in the pose for 3 minutes on each side ( 1 minute to settle into the pose, 1 minute to practice the yoga actions, and 1 minute to allow the body and the Vijnanamaya Kosha (intuition) to respond with truth and wisdom. Listen and learn what life wants to show you.
Yoga Action (Annamaya Kosha):
1. Soften the skin, tissue, and muscle (soles of the feet & palms of the hands) into the bones. Feel as though the feet and hands are like lotus buds blossoming into this 1000-petal form.
2. Notice the broadening across your feet and hands.
Yoga Action (Pranamaya Kosha):
1. With your awareness, sense the rebound of earth energy activating the Pada (foot) and Hasta (hand) Bandhas up through the legs and arms.
Yoga Action (Manomaya Kosha):
1. Silently ask yourself, “Where do I need more stability?”; “Where do I need greater ease?”
2. When you have balanced your stability and ease, rest in the pose by silently repeating to yourself “I am stable and at ease.”
NOTE: It may take more than one pose before you awaken these yoga actions or areas in your body and begin to feel the arising sensations and releases. In that case, apply these yoga actions to the following supine standing poses in the upcoming weeks.
For more yoga actions and teachings, click here. Namaste.
