Vinyala

Pose sheet

Reclining Big Toe Pose A (A–C set)

Supta Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana Aसुप्त पादाङ्गुष्ठासन A

Lie on your back, raising one leg and holding its big toe.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

Head, shoulders, upper back, sacrum, left arm, and left leg.

Enter

  1. Lie on your back, legs straight and feet flexed.
  2. Draw your right knee toward your chest; keep your left leg grounded.
  3. Hook your right big toe with your right index and middle fingers.
  4. Straighten your right leg and arm toward the ceiling.
  5. Rest your straight left arm on the floor beside your body.

Hold

  1. Keep your head, shoulders, and sacrum grounded.
  2. Preserve your spine's natural curves.
  3. Engage both thighs; extend through your heels without locking your knees.
  4. Keep your pelvis level.

Exit

  1. Bend your right knee toward your chest and release your grip.
  2. Slowly straighten and lower your leg to the floor.
  3. Repeat on the other side, switching arms and legs.
Breathing
Breathe deeply and evenly.
Gaze
Look at your raised toe; if outside your view, the ceiling.
Duration
Five breaths per side.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Strap gripLoop the raised sole; hold the strap with the same-side hand.
  • Raised knee bentSlightly bend your raised knee, keeping your sacrum grounded.
  • Lower leg bentBend your lower knee and place its sole on the floor.
  • Lower foot against the wallPress its sole against a wall, keeping your leg straight.

Variations

  • B: open your leg sideways, keeping the opposite hip grounded.
  • C: cross the leg using the opposite hand; reclined twist.
  • Lift head and torso, chin toward knee.

Signals of effort

  • One hip flexed with its knee extended.
  • Foot held with one arm raised.