Vinyala

Pose sheet

Circle Pose

Maṇḍalāsanaमण्डलासन

With head and forearms grounded, walk your feet around your head.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

Crown, forearms, and feet; fingers interlaced behind your head.

Enter

  1. Start in Dvi Pāda Viparīta Daṇḍāsana.
  2. Interlace fingers behind your head; ground your crown and forearms.
  3. Straighten your legs, ground your heels, and lift your chest.
  4. Walk clockwise with small steps.
  5. At each side, lift the opposite shoulder and rotate your torso.

Hold

  1. Keep your head and hands still.
  2. Alternate steps with your base grounded.
  3. Lift your chest as you rotate.
  4. Complete the circle; pause and repeat in the opposite direction.

Exit

  1. Return to the backbend; bring feet closer and bend your knees.
  2. Release your fingers; place your palms beside your ears.
  3. Push through your hands, lift your head, and lower your back.
Breathing
Several deep breaths between directions.
Duration
One circle each direction, with a pause between.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Large practice surfaceUse one large mat or several creating a continuous surface.
  • Wall preparationPlace feet against a wall only for practicing the stationary base.

Variations

  • Enter from Śīrṣāsana, lowering your feet behind you.
  • Bent knees and steps on your toes.

Signals of effort

  • Weight on the crown and forearms.
  • Deep trunk extension.
  • Trunk rotation during the sequence.
  • Changing foot support during the circle.