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

Skandasana

स्कन्दासन

Skandāsana

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


Skanda (स्कन्द, Skanda) = literally: attacker, jumper; also a name of Karttikeya (कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), son of Shiva (शिव, Śiva) and Agni (अग्नि, Agni). Since he leads Shiva[s] (शिव[स्], Śiva[s]) army against the enemies of the Gods to safe the world, he is labaled God of War. He was nursed by six mothers. Additionally, Mother Earth adopted him.
Asana (आसन, Āsana) = pose, posture, seat
Skandasana (स्कन्दासन, Skandāsana) = Pose dedicated to Skanda

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 into Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
8 EX swing back till left foot comes to standing on floor, right leg remains behind head
5BR nāsāgre Skandasana (स्कन्दासन, Skandāsana)
9 IN swing back into Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
10 EX nāsāgre lower down slowly, elbows close to the body, Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
11 IN bhrūmadhye roll on tops of feet, open the chest, straighten arms, Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
12 EX nābicakre tuck toes, push back, lift hips, straight arms, Adho Mukha Shvanasana (अधो मुख श्वानासन, Adho Mukha Śvānāsana)
13 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 into Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
14 EX swing back till right foot comes to standing on floor, left leg remains behind head
5BR nāsāgre Skandasana (स्कन्दासन, Skandāsana)
15 IN swing back into Chakorasana (चकोरासन, Cakorāsana)
16 EX nāsāgre lower down slowly, elbows close to the body, Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
17 IN bhrūmadhye roll on tops of feet, open the chest, straighten arms, Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
18 EX nābicakre tuck toes, push back, lift hips, straight arms, Adho Mukha Shvanasana (अधो मुख श्वानासन, Adho Mukha Śvānāsana)
19 IN bhrūmadhye jump feet between hands, straighten the spine half way up, lift your head,
20 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