Vinyala

Pose sheet

Pose Dedicated to Skanda

Skandāsanaस्कन्दासन

Seated, fold over one extended leg while keeping the other behind your neck.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

Sitting bones and back of the right leg on the floor.

Enter

  1. Sit in Staff Pose with both legs extended.
  2. Bend your left knee; hold the ankle with both hands.
  3. Exhale and place your left leg behind your neck.
  4. Exhale, fold your torso, and hold your right foot.
  5. Rest your chin on your right knee, extending it forward.

Hold

  1. Keep your right leg extended.
  2. Keep your left leg against your neck and left shoulder.
  3. Extend your chin forward to keep the leg from slipping.

Exit

  1. Inhale and lift your torso; release the grip.
  2. Hold your left ankle; release the leg and extend it.
  3. Repeat with your legs switched.
Breathing
Exhale as you fold; breathe deeply while holding the pose.
Duration
About 20 seconds per side.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Upright preparationRemain in Eka Pāda Śīrṣāsana without adding the forward fold.
  • Partial foldReduce the fold; maintain leg placement and continuous breathing.

Variations

  • Wrist clasp beyond the foot.
  • Standing, folded over one leg: Skandāsana.

Signals of effort

  • Weight of the leg against the back of the neck.
  • Deep flexion and external rotation of the left hip.
  • Deep forward fold over the extended right leg.