About this Asana Digest

Poses

Apanasana (Knees to Chest) and Pavanmuktasana or Pawanmuktasana (Wind-Relieving Pose)

Objective

Become knowledgeable about the pose and review detailed teaching considerations.

Description

Explain the Sanskrit naming; contraindications and cautions; associated benefits and typical effects; instructions and cues for setting up and practicing the pose; variations to meet particular intentions and needs; and more teaching considerations.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Asana Digests focus in on teaching specific poses. Please be aware of the groundwork and teaching support here: Asana Category – Forward Bend & Hip Stretching

Pavanmuktasana

“pavana” = wind
“mukta”  = to liberate or to free
Wind-Relieving Pose

Apanasana

Knees to Chest

Also known as: Moving Outwards and Eliminating Force Posture

• Some sources refer to this pose as Apanasana and others call it Pavanmuktasana.
• Other sources designate Pavanmuktasana as the name for drawing in one knee and Apanasana as the name for drawing in both.
• Pavanmuktasana is also the name given to a joint freeing series used in yoga therapy.

Heart of the Pose

Forward Bend

Notes

This pose celebrates Vayu, the Lord of the Wind. (Vayu is a synonym for pavana, and both are associated with prana.) In the Vedas, Vayu is the deified wind, or the breath of the gods… When we practice Pavanmuktasana, we affect the pranic body, particularly the pranamaya kosha or energy sheath. – Rama Jyoti Vernon, Yoga: The Practice of Myth and Sacred Geometry 2014 pgs 41-42  link

See also: Back, Core & Side-Waist Flows to see more Apanasana variations.

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