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{{short description|A seated posture in modern yoga}}
{{short description|Seated posture in modern yoga}}
[[File:Kraunchasana (Leon black background.jpg|thumb|Krounchasana, Heron pose<br/>(with hands in a [[mudra]])]]
'''Krauñcāsana''' (Sanskrit: क्रौञ्चासन) or '''Heron pose''', also written '''Krounchasana''', is a sitting [[asana]] in [[modern yoga]].<ref name=Mehta>{{cite book |author1=Mehta, Silva |author2=Mehta, Mira |author3=Mehta, Shyam |date=1990 |title=[[Yoga: The Iyengar Way]] |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |location=London |page=62}}</ref><ref name=Iyengar>{{cite book | last=Iyengar | first=B. K. S. |authorlink=B. K. S. Iyengar | year=1979 | title=[[Light on Yoga]] | publisher=Schocken Books |origyear=1966 |pages=158–159}}</ref>
'''Krauñcāsana''' ([[Sanskrit]]: क्रौञ्चासन) or '''Heron pose''', also written '''Krounchasana''', is a sitting [[asana]] in modern [[yoga as exercise]].<ref name=Mehta>{{cite book |author1=Mehta, Silva |author2=Mehta, Mira |author3=Mehta, Shyam |date=1990 |title=[[Yoga: The Iyengar Way]] |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |location=London |page=62}}</ref><ref name=Iyengar>{{cite book | last=Iyengar | first=B. K. S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar | year=1979 | title=[[Light on Yoga]] | publisher=Schocken Books |orig-year=1966 |pages=158–159}}</ref>


==Etymology and origins==
==Etymology and origins==
[[File:Ardeola grayii Hardwicke.jpg|thumb|The pose is named for a long-legged waterbird, like the [[Indian pond heron]].]]
⚫
The name comes from the Sanskrit words ''Kraunch'' (क्रौञ्च) meaning "heron", and the name of a mountain;<ref name=LoY>{{cite book | last=Iyengar | first=B. K. S. |authorlink=B. K. S. Iyengar | year=1979 | title=Light on Yoga | publisher=Schocken Books |origyear=1966 |page=523}}</ref> and ''Asana'' (आसन, āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".<ref name="Sinha1996">{{cite book |last=Sinha |first=S.C. |title=Dictionary of Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18 |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-293-9 |page=18}}</ref>


⚫
The name comes from the Sanskrit words ''Kraunch'' (क्रौञ्च) meaning "[[heron]]", and the name of a mountain;<ref name=LoY>{{cite book |last=Iyengar |first=B. K. S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar |year=1979 |title=Light on Yoga |url=https://archive.org/details/lightonyoga00bksi |url-access=registration |publisher=Schocken Books |orig-year=1966 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lightonyoga00bksi/page/523 523]<!--is the glossary-->}}</ref> and ''Asana'' (आसन, āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".<ref name="Sinha1996">{{cite book |last=Sinha |first=S.C. |title=Dictionary of Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18 |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-293-9 |page=18}}</ref> ''Kraunch'' can also mean the [[demoiselle crane]] or the [[curlew]]; both like the heron are long-legged [[waterbird]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kraunca, Krauñca, Krauñcā: 22 definitions Introduction |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kraunca#hinduism |website=Wisdom Library |access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref>
⚫
The 19th century ''[[Sritattvanidhi]]'' uses the name for a different pose, squatting, supported by a rope held with the teeth.<ref name=Sjoman>{{cite book |last1=Sjoman |first1=Norman E. |authorlink=Norman Sjoman |url=https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN8170173892 |title=The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1999 |isbn=81-7017-389-2 |pages=44, 50, 79, 91}}</ref> The modern pose is described in 20th century manuals such as [[B. K. S. Iyengar]]'s ''[[Light on Yoga]]''.<ref name=LoY/> Swami Yogesvarananda names the modern pose "Ekapadotthitahastapadaprasaranasana" in his 1970 ''First Steps to Higher yoga'', reserving the name Kraunchasana for a preparatory phase of another pose named for a waterbird, [[Bakasana]] (the Crane). [[Pattabhi Jois]] uses the name for the same pose as Iyengar, implying that they both learnt the pose from their teacher [[Krishnamacharya]].<ref name=Sjoman/>


⚫
The 19th century ''[[Sritattvanidhi]]'' uses the name for a different pose, squatting, supported by a rope held with the teeth.<ref name=Sjoman>{{cite book |last1=Sjoman |first1=Norman E. |author-link=Norman Sjoman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BU2WI8wMpcC |title=The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1999 |isbn=81-7017-389-2 |pages=44, 50, 79, 91 }}</ref> The modern pose is described in 20th century manuals such as [[B. K. S. Iyengar]]'s ''[[Light on Yoga]]''.<ref name=LoY/> Swami Yogesvarananda names the modern pose "Ekapadotthitahastapadaprasaranasana" in his 1970 ''First Steps to Higher yoga'', reserving the name Kraunchasana for a preparatory phase of another pose named for a waterbird, [[Bakasana]] (the Crane). [[Pattabhi Jois]] uses the name for the same pose as Iyengar, implying, according to the yoga scholar [[Norman Sjoman]], that they both learnt the pose from their teacher [[Krishnamacharya]].<ref name=Sjoman/>
⚫
==Description==

⚫
The pose is sitting with one knee forwards on the ground and the foot beside the hip, as in [[Virasana]], the other leg straight and raised to touch the nose and chin, the foot grasped by both hands. It provides a stronger forward bend than [[Paschimottanasana]].<ref name=Iyengar/> The posture is stated to be unsuitable during menstruation.<ref name=Mehta/>
⚫
== Description ==

⚫
The pose is accomplished by sitting with one knee forwards on the ground and the foot beside the hip, as in [[Virasana]]. The other leg is straight and raised to touch the nose and chin; the foot is grasped by both hands. This provides a stronger forward bend than [[Paschimottanasana]].<ref name=Iyengar/> The posture is stated to be unsuitable during menstruation.<ref name=Mehta/>

== Variations ==

A strap may be held in the hands and looped behind the sole of the foot of the extended leg, to allow the chest to continue lifting while the leg is straightened.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Anon |title=Heron Pose |journal=[[Yoga Journal]] |date=28 August 2007 |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/heron-pose/ |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{asanas}}
{{Asanas}}
{{Yoga as exercise}}
{{Hatha yoga}}


[[Category:Sitting asanas]]
[[Category:Sitting asanas]]
[[Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas]]
[[Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas]]
[[Category:Forward bend asanas]]
[[Category:Forward bend asanas]]
[[Category:Asymmetric asanas]]

Latest revision as of 06:26, 4 February 2024

Krounchasana, Heron pose
(with hands in a mudra)

Krauñcāsana (Sanskrit: क्रौञ्चासन) or Heron pose, also written Krounchasana, is a sitting asana in modern yoga as exercise.[1][2]

Etymology and origins

[edit]
The pose is named for a long-legged waterbird, like the Indian pond heron.

The name comes from the Sanskrit words Kraunch (क्रौञ्च) meaning "heron", and the name of a mountain;[3] and Asana (आसन, āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".[4] Kraunch can also mean the demoiselle crane or the curlew; both like the heron are long-legged waterbirds.[5]

The 19th century Sritattvanidhi uses the name for a different pose, squatting, supported by a rope held with the teeth.[6] The modern pose is described in 20th century manuals such as B. K. S. Iyengar's Light on Yoga.[3] Swami Yogesvarananda names the modern pose "Ekapadotthitahastapadaprasaranasana" in his 1970 First Steps to Higher yoga, reserving the name Kraunchasana for a preparatory phase of another pose named for a waterbird, Bakasana (the Crane). Pattabhi Jois uses the name for the same pose as Iyengar, implying, according to the yoga scholar Norman Sjoman, that they both learnt the pose from their teacher Krishnamacharya.[6]

Description

[edit]

The pose is accomplished by sitting with one knee forwards on the ground and the foot beside the hip, as in Virasana. The other leg is straight and raised to touch the nose and chin; the foot is grasped by both hands. This provides a stronger forward bend than Paschimottanasana.[2] The posture is stated to be unsuitable during menstruation.[1]

Variations

[edit]

A strap may be held in the hands and looped behind the sole of the foot of the extended leg, to allow the chest to continue lifting while the leg is straightened.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Mehta, Silva; Mehta, Mira; Mehta, Shyam (1990). Yoga: The Iyengar Way. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 62.
  2. ^ a b Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga. Schocken Books. pp. 158–159.
  3. ^ a b Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga. Schocken Books. p. 523.
  4. ^ Sinha, S.C. (1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9.
  5. ^ "Kraunca, Krauñca, Krauñcā: 22 definitions Introduction". Wisdom Library. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Sjoman, Norman E. (1999). The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace. Abhinav Publications. pp. 44, 50, 79, 91. ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
  7. ^ Anon (28 August 2007). "Heron Pose". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
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