Anahatasana (Melting Heart)
Learned: Asana Lab
See Manual Pages: 141, A-113, A-117
Where this can show up in class: Forward, Peak Pada, Afterward, Connecting Vinyasa
This pose can be done in the following orientations: Kneeling. It is an inversion
This pose contains the following overall actions: Backbend.
| Hip and Knee Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Position | Knee Position | Significant Weight Bearing | |||
| Open | Closed | Bent | Straight | ||
| Front/Leading Leg | X | X | |||
| Back/Second Leg | X | X | |||
| Movements of Prana | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Prana | Apana | Vyana | Samana |
Spine Pelvis Front ribs (to avoid thoracic overextension) |
Arms Knees Shins Feet |
Arms Spine Pelvis |
Inner thighs |
| Relevant Asanas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kramas | Related Asanas | Pratikryasanas |
Adho Mukha Svanasana Bhujangasana (for standing version) Natarajasana (Balasana) Ashtangasana Bitalasana / Bidalasana Navasana / Paripurna Navasana (w/ bent knees) Bharmanasana |
| Physical Key Actions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Joint Mobilizations | Muscle Stretching | Muscle Engagement |
Spinal extension Shoulder flexion |
| Common Misalignments | |
|---|---|
| Mixalignments | Cues to help |
| Looks more like Balasana | Hips over knees; Think of starting from all fours, walk hands forward until there is resistance |
| Lack of shoulder flexion (so ends up in spine) | Careful of weight bearing on shoulders; Use blocks or chest not down so far; Use wider arms |
| Too much thoracic extension | Pull front ribs up |
| Knees too wide or narrow | Knees hip distance |
| Anterior pelvic tilt | Cue neutral pelvis |