Revolved Side Angle Pose / Parivrtta Parsvakonasana is a fundamental posture that you'll find in every Ashtanga and Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga.


Here are some key points:

• Place feet 4 to 5 feet apart.
• Bend the front knee so that it's directly above the ankle.
• Line up the heels of the feet with the back foot turned in about 45 degrees.
• Place the opposite arm outside the bent leg and bring the hands together.
• Press the arm against the leg while bracing the leg against the arm twisting at the waist.
• Don't hold your breath. Maintaining calm, deep breaths at about a 3 second inhale & 3 second exhale.

Practice consistently. A steady drip hollows out stone.

That said, if you're like so many of us, who need someone to hold us accountable and nudge us to break thru our limitations, you can register for DY in-studio classes or live-streams daily at the following link.

See you in class!

Jason

Considered a basic/fundamental posture, Revolved Triangle Pose is in almost every single class at Detroit Yoga.  

It may look simple enough, but it will take a few years (300 to 500 hours) of consistent Ashtanga Vinyasa practice to have a polished version of it.

Someone who has polished their basics has transformed themselves in more ways than just gaining strength and flexibility.  They were, or became, someone who kept showing up.  

Polishing and refining the little details of one's practice, inevitably polishes one's character.  Leading to self mastery.

Keep going.

​Jason

To watch a video tutorial going over some details of Revolved Triangle Pose click here.

Once, about 15 years ago, someone came up to me after class and asked why I hadn’t put any back bends in class. She was referring to more intense backbends like Upward Bow, which at the time I did not put into an introductory/beginner class.

Anyway, I said to her, “what about the 50 plus up dogs that you just did?”  I received a look that seemed like she did not appreciate my "check mate".

Up Dog is a fantastic back bending posture, and is one of the most frequently practiced postures in Ashtanga Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga.  Having a polished Upward Facing Dog Pose is a prerequisite for deeper back bend and it seems is ofter overlooked in the rush to get to the more "advanced" postures.

Let's be careful though, not to put the cart before the horse.  Practice patience, and make sure that we are bettering our basics first.

Even though this is a fundamental/basic posture there are quite a few details that are ofter overlooked.  Below are some.

• Make sure that your feet are not too far away from your hands beginning first in Plank.
• And then lowering from plank to Chaturanga the chest is out in front of the hands.
• Which then set up the hands to be directly under the shoulder in Up Dog.

For more details come on in to class!

See you soon.

​Jason

Side Angle Pose is in almost every Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga, as well as a very similar variation practiced always in Ashtanga class. A fundamental asana, Parsvakonasana opens the hips and prepares the body for more challenging postures down the road. 

That said,  it's important to set goals, like after polishing up the basics/fundamentals, getting to a more challenging/advanced posture, but as students at DY know, I am a big fan of practicing the basics. If that's all we ever did we'd be in great shape, both physically and mentally. But don't worry, I'll definitely throw more challenges at you!  :)

A few details regarding this variation of  Side Angle Pose pictured here... 

1. Most beginners with tighter hips will not be able to lunge so low until they invested many hours of practice. Be patient.
2. If the lunge is higher, then the hand at the floor will also be higher. Perhaps on the finger tips or a yoga block.
3. Keep the back leg straight and strong. Don't let the knee buckle.

An advanced technique is a basic one that's been mastered.  Keep going.

See you in class!

Jason
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