YOGA ASANAS :
“BACKBENDS” FAMILY

 

In the “BackBends” family,
each of the six Asanas is featured using the same design

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Bhujaṅgāsana

# 16, plate 40, page 87 ( « Light on Yoga » BKS. Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons. Harper Collins India. Schocken books, New York).
# 8, plate 19, page 50 (« The illustrated light on Yoga » BKS Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons & Harper Collins India ).
# 69, plate 133, page 240 ( « Yoga, a gem for women », Geeta S Iyengar. Allied publishers, India ).

Bhujaṅga : Serpent ( as opposed to snake ).

«The body is like a serpent about to strike» BKS Iyengar.

 

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Chaturaṅga Daṇḍāsana

# 29, plates 66/67, page 104 ( «Light on Yoga» BKS. Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons. Harper Collins India. Schocken books, New York).
# 14, plates 29/30, page 54 (« The illustrated light on Yoga » BKS Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons & Harper Collins India ).
– Not featured in ( «Yoga, a gem for women», Geeta S Iyengar. Allied publishers, India ).

Chatur : Four.

Aṅga : Member, part, body. This word can be found in Aṣṭānga Yoga, Chaturaṅga Daṇḍāsana, Pādānguṣṭhāsana, Sālamba Sarvāngāsana… 

Daṇḍa : Staff. Staff stands for the spine. See as well Daṇḍāsana.

Chaturaṅga Daṇḍāsana can Hence be translated by « a staff on four legs », or more simply a straight spine/head/body on four members.

 

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Uṣtrāsana

# 16, plates 40/41, page 108 ( «Light on Yoga» BKS. Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons. Harper Collins India. Schocken books, New York).
# 8, plates 19/20, page 50 (« The illustrated light on Yoga » BKS Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons & Harper Collins India ).
# 69, plate 133, page 241 ( «Yoga, a gem for women», Geeta S Iyengar. Allied publishers, India ).

Geeta S. Iyengar propose a version of this pose ( # 78 ) with ropes ( Yoga Kuruṇṭa ).

Uṣtra : Camel.

 

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Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana

# 32, plate 74, page 108 ( «Light on Yoga» BKS. Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons.  Harper Collins India. Schocken books, New York).
# 16, plate 32, page 56 (« The illustrated light on Yoga » BKS Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons & Harper Collins India ).
# 70, plate 135, pages 243 ( «Yoga, a gem for women», Geeta S Iyengar. Allied publishers, India ).

Ūrdhva : Upwards.
Mukha : Face.
Śvāna : Dog.

The dog who looks upwards. This pose is named after its shape. 

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Ūrdhva dhanurāsana

# 172/172a, plates 479/487, page 357 ( «Light on Yoga» BKS. Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons.  Harper Collins India. Schocken books, New York).
# 56, plate 141/145, page 114 (« The illustrated light on Yoga » BKS Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons & Harper Collins India ).
# 72, plates 137/143, page 246 ( «Yoga, a gem for women», Geeta S Iyengar. Allied publishers, India ).

Ūrdhva : Upwards ( see Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana ).
Danhu : Bow.

«Body is the bow, asana is the arrow, and the soul is the target».
B.K.S. Iyengar.

The bow appears frequently in indian sagas of lore. See : 

• Arjuna.
• Rama.
• Vishnu’ bow.
• Shivas’ bow.
• And as well Ulysse’s bow.

 

 

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Dhanurāsana

# 27, plates 63, page 101 ( « Light on Yoga » BKS. Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons.  Harper Collins India. Schocken books, New York).
# 13, plate 28, page 54 (« The illustrated light on Yoga » BKS Iyengar. Aquarian/Thorsons & Harper Collins India ).
# 71, plate 136, page 244 ( « Yoga, a gem for women », Geeta S Iyengar. Allied publishers, India ).

Danhu : Bow.

• This pose looks like a bow.
• See as well Ūrdhva danhurāsana.

«Body is the bow, asana is the arrow, and the soul is the target».
B.K.S. Iyengar

The bow appears frequently in indian sagas of lore. See : 

• Arjuna.
• Rama.
• Vishnu’ bow.
• Shivas’ bow.
• And as well Ulysse’s bow.