parivrtta = to turn around, revolve
parsva = side
kona = angle
par-ee-vrt-tah parsh-vah-cone-AHS-anna
Benefits
- Improves flexibility
- Strengthens legs and core
- Improves digestion
- Stretches the groin, chest, and shoulders
Contraindications
- Headache
- High or low blood pressure
- Neck pain or injury
How To
- From Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II), with your legs in a Warrior Stance and arms in a capital ‘T’, inhale to prepare
- Exhale, reach your front hand forward and hinge your torso slightly forward
- Rest your forearm on top or slightly inside of your front thigh
- Extend your top arm up towards the sky, fingers pointing above you
- Stack your shoulders on top of each other
- Option to reach your top arm up overhead, wrapping your bicep around your ear with your fingers reaching towards the front of your space
Modify or Replace
- Rest your bottom hand on a block at any level to add depth without overextending your arms and shoulders
- Bring your top hand to rest on your top hip to allow your arm and shoulder to rest
Sequencing Tips
Before:
- Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)
- Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
- Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
After:
- Bird of Paradise (Svarga Dvijasana)
- Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
- Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana)
Teaching Cues
- Root all four corners of the feet into the floor.
- Draw the shoulders down the back.
- Send the tailbone toward the floor.
Variations
- Find a half bind with your top arm wrapping around your lower back to grasp your hip, upper thigh, or a piece of clothing nearby
- Find a full bind from your half bind by wrapping your bottom arm under your front thigh to bring your hands to meet and interlace behind you
Watch Out For
- Back heel lifting
- Shoulder over-extension