Virañcyāsana A2: Posture of Virañcya

Mythology: Virañcya is an epithet of Brahmā, naming him specifically as the principle of creation: the impulse that lets form arise from the unformed. In the myths, creation does not begin with pressure, but with alignment: a clear impulse brings order to what is unclear until something sustainable takes shape. This is exactly how this Āsana works: You set breath, bandha, gaze, and direction so precisely that a clear form emerges from what initially seems like chaos. The name is a reminder that stability does not come from hardness, but from intelligent organization.

Tip: It is much easier if you first take the left (lower) hand behind the back and then slowly “walk” it upward along the spine. As soon as your fingers touch the right calf, move the hand a little further toward the ankle: this is your reference point from which the right hand can find the left more easily. In the beginning, often only the fingertips touch. By bending them, you can gradually “hook” the hands together step by step.

Effect: Compared to A1, Virañcyāsana A2 primarily deepens shoulder opening (through the arm bind) while simultaneously demanding stability in Lotus. With the upward gaze and the bind, you create more lift through the chest and a clear focus in the upper back. Caution: if Lotus is not stable or the rotation is “pulled” from the lower back, the load quickly shifts into the knee or the lumbar spine—so keep the pelvis quiet, bandhas active, and open primarily through the hips and rib cage.