Vinyala

Pose sheet

Standing Spinal Twist

Kaṭicakrāsanaकटिचक्रासन

Stand and turn your torso to alternating sides, keeping both feet grounded.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

Both feet, with the soles grounded.

Enter

  1. Stand with your feet approximately shoulder-width apart.
  2. Inhale and lift your arms to shoulder height.
  3. Exhale; turn your torso right, keeping both feet grounded.
  4. Place your left hand on your right shoulder.
  5. Wrap your right arm behind; reach toward your left waist.

Hold

  1. Pause briefly with your torso upright.
  2. Keep your pelvis facing forward without forcing the twist.
  3. Relax your arms and turn smoothly.
  4. Look over your right shoulder, keeping the back of your neck long.

Exit

  1. Inhale and return to center, releasing your arm position.
  2. Repeat to the left, reversing your hands and gaze.
  3. After completing your rounds, exhale and lower your arms.
Breathing
Inhale to raise arms and return; exhale to twist.
Gaze
Look over the shoulder on the turning side.
Duration
2 seconds per side; 5–10 complete rounds.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Smaller twistShorten the twist, keeping your pelvis facing forward.
  • Sideways gazeReduce your head rotation to a comfortable range.
  • WallStand with your back toward a wall; turn, touching one hand behind.

Variations

  • Rhythmic arm-swinging variation with spontaneous breathing.
  • Feet together; hold for 4–6 breaths per side.
  • Arms-extended, palms-apart variation: feet together, arms extended; keep palms apart.

Signals of effort

  • Torso rotation over a fixed base of grounded feet.
  • Neck turned to look over your shoulder.
  • One arm crosses your chest; the other wraps behind.