Standing Split Pose - Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana
Contents
Standing Split Pose or Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana stretches the back muscles, hamstrings, groin, and leg muscles and improves body balance. In Sanskrit, Urdhva means upward, Prasarita means to spread out, Eka means one, Pada means leg and Asana means a yoga posture. Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana is an intermediate to advanced level pose, which also gives benefits similar to other inverted poses.
Pose Detail
- Difficulty: Advanced, Intermediate
- By Type: Balancing Yoga Poses, Flexibility Yoga Poses
- Body Position: Forward Bend Yoga Poses
Step-by-Step Instructions
Benefits and Contraindications
Improves your balance
Strengthens and stretches your hamstring muscles, calf muscles, quadriceps muscles and groins
Stretches and strengthens your spine
Stimulates liver and kidney, regularizes their functions
Good remedy for headache, anxiety, insomnia and mild depression
Enhances your focusing power and concentration
Relieves body fatigue
Removes tension from and relaxes your cervical spine, relieves neck pain
High or low blood pressure
Migraine
Low back pathologies
Ankle, knee, or hip injury
Shoulder injury
Modifications, Probs and Tips
Be sure to warm up properly before attempting this asana. That way, you’ll not only be better prepared to achieve your full potential within this pose, but you’ll reduce your risk of injury.
Tap into your imagination to help you achieve a Standing Split. As you fold forward, picture your lifted leg rising up as if a powerful balloon were tied to your ankle. At the same time, picture sand pouring down towards your head and through your standing leg, anchoring you down to the earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Variations
- Splits Pose / Monkey Pose
- Standing Split with blocks
- Standing Split with a chair
- Standing Split with leg on the wall
