Vinyala

Pose sheet

Side Plank Pose

Vasiṣṭhāsanaवसिष्ठासन

Balance sideways on one hand, stacking your feet and reaching your upper arm upward.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

One palm and the outer edge of the bottom foot.

Enter

  1. From Plank, place your left palm beneath your shoulder.
  2. Roll onto the outer edge of your left foot.
  3. Stack your right foot; keep both legs straight.
  4. Lift your pelvis, aligning your heels, torso, and head.
  5. Reach your right arm upward, directly above your left.

Hold

  1. Press through your palm and keep your bottom shoulder steady.
  2. Draw your legs together and reach outward through your heels.
  3. Keep your hips stacked without dropping or shifting them.

Exit

  1. Exhale, lower your right hand, and rotate back into Plank.
  2. Repeat on the other side.
Breathing
Breathe continuously while holding the pose.
Gaze
Toward your upper hand; alternatively, look straight ahead.
Duration
Up to five breaths per side.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Knee supportedGround your bottom knee and keep your top leg extended.
  • Foot in frontBend your top knee; ground that foot in front.
  • ForearmGround your bottom forearm, with your elbow beneath your shoulder.
  • WallPractice beside a wall, touching it with your back and pelvis.

Variations

  • Top leg lifted: separate your legs without holding your foot.
  • Vertical leg, big toe held variation; brief-hold breath-retention variation.
  • Side Tree: top foot against the inner thigh of your bottom leg.

Signals of effort

  • Weight on one wrist, with the elbow extended.
  • Sideways balance on one hand and one foot.
  • Breath retention during brief holds.