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

Eka-Pada Raja Kapotasana

एकपाद राज कपोतासन

Eka-Pāda Rāja Kapotāsana

Utthita Trivikrimasana [thumb mini] Nata Rajasana [A] [thumb mini] Nata Rajasana [B] [thumb mini] Raja Kapotasana [thumb mini] Eka-Pada  Raja  Kapotasana [thumb mini solar] Urdhva  Dhanurasana [thumb mini] Way in the Posture [thumb mini] Way in the Posture [thumb mini] Urdhva  Dhanurasana [thumb mini] Paschimottanasana [thumb mini]
Eka-Pada  Raja  Kapotasana

Ekam (एकम्, Ekam) = One
Pada (पाद, Pāda) = Foot, Leg
Raja (राज, Rāja) = King, Ruler
Kapota (कपोत, Kapota) = Pigeon
Asana (आसन, Āsana) = Posture, seat
Eka-Pada Raja Kapotasana (एकपाद राज कपोतासन, Eka-Pāda Rāja Kapotāsana) = One-legged King Pidgeon Posture

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 right leg with bend knee forward between arms
8 EX bend left knee, grab left foot with left hand
(IN) grab foot with both hands, open chest
(EX) pull foot to head
5BR bhrūmadhye Eka-Pada Raja Kapotasana (एकपाद राज कपोतासन, Eka-Pāda Rāja Kapotāsana)
9 IN lift head again
(EX) place hands down to ground
10 IN lift right knee
(EX) nāsāgre walk through backward and lower down to
Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
11 IN bhrūmadhye roll on back of feet, open chest, extend arms,
shoulder back and down Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
12 EX nābicakre roll on soles of feet, coccyx to top, long back, extend arms Adho Mukha Shvanasana (अधो मुख श्वानासन, Adho Mukha Śvānāsana)
13 IN left leg with bend knee forward between arms
14 EX bend right knee, grab right foot with right hand
(IN) grab feet with both hands, open chest
(EX) pull foot to head
5BR bhrūmadhye Eka-Pada Raja Kapotasana (एकपाद राज कपोतासन, Eka-Pāda Rāja Kapotāsana)
15 IN lift head again
(EX) place hands down to ground
16 IN lift left knee
(EX) nāsāgre walk through backward and lower down to
Chaturanga Dandasana (चतुराङ्ग दण्डासन, Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana)
17 IN bhrūmadhye roll on back of feet, open chest, extend arms,
shoulder back and down Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (ऊर्ध्व मुख श्वानासन, Ūrdhva Mukha Śvānāsana)
18 EX nābicakre roll on soles of feet, coccyx to top, long back, extend 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