Ashtanga Yoga for advanced practitioners: 35 tough Asanas of third series (Advanced A) play with gravity. The reward: Sthira Bhaga, sublime serenity.

Traditional Practice Series

Bhairavasana

भैरवासन

Bhairavāsana

Vishvamitrasana [thumb mini] exit the pose [thumb mini] Kasyapasana [thumb mini] Chakorasana [thumb mini] Bhairavasana [thumb mini solar] Skandasana [thumb mini] Durvasana [thumb mini] Way into the Position [thumb mini] Urdhva  Kukkutasana [A] [thumb mini] Way into the Position [thumb mini]
Bhairavasana


Bhairava (भैरव, Bhairava) = literally: terrifying, horrible; name of a manifestation of Shiva (शिव, Śiva);
Asana (आसन, Āsana) = pose, posture, seat
Bhairavasana (भैरवासन, Bhairavāsana) = Pose of Bhairava

Vinyāsa breath Dr̥ṣṭi explanation of movement
1 IN añguṣṭhamadhye raise arms overhead
2 EX nāsāgre spread fingers, hinging at the hip fold forward, hands to ground Uttanasana (उत्तानासन, Uttānāsana)
3 IN bhrūmadhye come half-way up with straight spine, lift head
4 EX nāsāgre hands down, float back, ellbows close to chest Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
5 IN bhrūmadhye roll on tops of feet, open the chest, straighten arms, Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
6 EX nābicakre tuck toes, push back, lift hips, straight arms Adho Mukha Shvanasana (अधो मुख श्वानासन, Adho Mukha Śvānāsana)
7 IN jump forward balancing on straight arms, bend legs in the air
(EX) during descend, swing right leg over right arm and then behind the head
(IN) lift up inChakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
8 (EX) swing into downward dog with right leg behind head, transition into side plank pose, left arm to sidebody
IN lift left arm
5BR hastāgre Bhairavasana (भैरवासन, Bhairavāsana)
9 EX left arm returns to sidebody, back into downward dog with right leg behind the head
10 IN jump through into Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
11 EX nāsāgre lower down slowly, elbows close to the body, Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
12 IN bhrūmadhye roll on tops of feet, open the chest, straighten arms, Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
13 EX nābicakre tuck toes, push back, lift hips, straight arms, Adho Mukha Shvanasana (अधो मुख श्वानासन, Adho Mukha Śvānāsana)
14 IN jump forward balancing on straight arms, bend legs in the air
(EX) during descend, swing left leg over left arm and then behind the head
(IN) lift up in Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
15 (EX) swing into downward dog with left leg behind head, transition into side plank pose, right arm to sidebody
IN lift right arm
5BR hastāgre Bhairavasana (भैरवासन, Bhairavāsana)
16 EX right arm returns to sidebody, back into downward dog with left leg behind the head
17 IN jump through into Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
18 EX nāsāgre lower down slowly, elbows close to the body, Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
19 IN bhrūmadhye roll on tops of feet, open the chest, straighten arms, Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
20 EX nābicakre tuck toes, push back, lift hips, straight arms, Adho Mukha Shvanasana (अधो मुख श्वानासन, Adho Mukha Śvānāsana)
21 IN bhrūmadhye jump feet between hands, straighten the spine half way up, lift your head,
22 EX nāsāgre bring chest all the way in, Uttanasana (उत्तानासन, Uttānāsana)
- IN bhrūmadhye lift the head again, straighten spine, palms or finger tips remain on the ground
EX nāsāgre stand all the way up, arms on sides, Samasthitih (समस्थितिः, Samasthitiḥ)

legend for the Vinyāsa table:

  • The grey part of the table is performed in Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga practice.
  • Yellow marked is the position depicted on the photo.
  • Vinyāsa:1 = ekam; 2 = dve; 3 = trīṇi; 4 = catvāri; 5 = pañca; 6 = ṣaṭ; 7 = sapta; 8 = aṣṭau; 9 = nava; 10 = daśa; 11 = ekādaśa; 12 = dvādaśa; 13 = trayodaśa; 14 = caturdaśa; 15 = pañcadaśa; 16 = ṣoḍaśa; 17 = saptadaśa; 18 = aṣṭadaśa; 19 = ekonavimśatiḥ; 20 = vimśatiḥ; 21 = ekāvimśatiḥ; 22 = dvāvimśatiḥ; 23 = trayovimśatiḥ; 24 = caturvimśatiḥ; 25 = pañcavimśatiḥ; 26 = ṣoḍavimśatiḥ; 27 = saptavimśatiḥ; 28 = aṣṭovimśatiḥ
  • breath: IN = Inhalation; EX = exhalation; 5BR = five breaths
  • Dr̥ṣṭi: nāsāgre = to the nose; añguṣṭhamadhye = to the middle of the thumb; bhrūmadhye = in the middle of the eye brows; nābicakre = to the navel; ūrdhvadr̥ṣṭi = upwards; hastāgre = to the tip of the hand; pādayoragre = to the tip of the foot; pārśvadr̥ṣṭi = sidewards