Dr. Ronald Steiner
Ākarṇa Dhanurāsana A: The Bow Drawn to the Ear
Mythology: Dhanus means “bow,” and ākarṇa means “to the ear.” In Indian imagery this is the archer’s moment just before the shot: the string is drawn all the way to the ear so that gaze, target, and line of force align. This phase stands for gathering. Nothing goes outward until everything inside is right—posture, breath, focus. In the epics, the skilled archer is not the one who pulls the hardest, but the one who gathers tension so precisely that it remains calm and controlled. The name points to this: one-pointedness arises before action—in the moment when you hold power without losing it.
In the traditional count: Begin directly from the hold in Adho Mukha Śvānāsana from the previous sequence.
Vinyāsa 7 – Inhalation, exhalation, inhalation:
On the inhalation, jump forward between the hands. On the exhalation, come into a seated position with control. Complete the movement by straightening the legs and inhaling.
Vinyāsa 8 – Exhalation:
On the exhalation, fold the right leg and prepare the grip.
Vinyāsa 9 – Exhalation, 5 breaths:
On the exhalation, draw the right foot to ear level and establish Ākarṇa Dhanurāsana A: one arm draws the “string,” the other maintains the line over the extended leg. Remain until the fifth exhalation.
Tip: Think in two lines: the extended leg stays active and long, and the pelvis remains as quiet as possible. The drawing leg comes from external rotation in the hip, not from pulling on the knee. Draw the foot slightly back and up toward the ear line rather than dragging the knee inward. Keep the chest lifted and the neck long so the pull does not migrate into the cervical spine. If the knee complains: reduce the pull, create more hip opening, and shorten the “string.”
In the traditional count: From here, the movement flow continues directly into the next posture.
Effect: Ākarṇa Dhanurāsana A stretches the back line of the extended leg while simultaneously demanding deep external rotation of the hip and stability in the pelvis. The posture trains uprightness, coordination, and focus
Fotograf: Richard Pilnick - www.richardpilnick.com
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