Uttanasana

The name comes from the Sanskrit words {{lang|sa|उत्तान}} {{lang|sa-Latn|uttāna}}, "intense stretch";{{cite web | url=http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/surya-namaskara-a-sun-salutation/item/uttanasana-a-425/ | title=Uttanasana A | publisher=Ashtanga Yoga | access-date=11 April 2011 | archive-date=15 September 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915225923/http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/surya-namaskara-a-sun-salutation/item/uttanasana-a-425/ | url-status=dead }} and {{lang|sa|आसन}}; {{lang|sa-Latn|uāsana}}, "posture" or "seat".{{cite book |last=Sinha |first=S. C. |title=Dictionary of Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18 | year=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-293-9 |page=18}}

The pose is a modern one, first seen in the 20th century. A pose with the name Uttānāsana is illustrated in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi but it is quite different from the modern pose (lying on the back, with elbows touching the knees and the hands behind the neck).{{cite book |last1=Sjoman |first1=Norman E. |author-link=Norman Sjoman |title=The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace |title-link=The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1999 |orig-year=1996 |isbn=81-7017-389-2 |pages=69, plate 1 (pose 2)}} The modern pose is described in Krishnamacharya's 1934 Yoga Makaranda,{{cite book |last=Krishnamacharya |first=Tirumalai |author-link=Tirumalai Krishnamacharya |title=Yoga Makaranda |title-link=Yoga Makaranda |date=2006 |orig-year=1934 |translator=Lakshmi Ranganathan |translator2=Nandini Ranganathan |pages=51, 55–56}} and in the works of his pupils, B. K. S. Iyengar's 1966 Light on Yoga{{cite book | last=Iyengar | first=B. K. S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar | year=1979 | orig-year=1966 | title=Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika | publisher=Unwin Paperbacks |isbn=978-1855381667 |pages=91–93}} and Pattabhi Jois's Ashtanga (vinyasa) yoga.{{cite book | last=Singleton | first=Mark |author-link=Mark Singleton (yoga scholar) | title=Yoga Body : the origins of modern posture practice |title-link=Yoga Body | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-19-539534-1 | oclc=318191988 | pages=175–210}} Theos Bernard however illustrates the related pose "Padhahasthasana" (sic) in his 1944 report of his experience of hatha yoga on the border of India and Tibet, suggesting the existence of a separate tradition.{{cite book | last=Bernard | first=Theos | author-link=Theos Bernard | title=Hatha yoga : the report of a personal experience | publisher=Harmony | publication-place=Edinburgh | year=2007 | orig-year=1944 | isbn=978-0-9552412-2-2 | oclc=230987898 | page=132}}

The pose is entered from the standing position of Tadasana, bending forward at the hips until the palms can be placed on the floor, ultimately behind the heels.

File:Padahastasana yoga posture.jpg

Ardha Uttanasana is a halfway stage, the trunk horizontal and the palms resting on the calves.{{cite book |last1=Calhoun |first1=Yael |last2=Calhoun |first2=Matthew R. |last3=Hamory |first3=Nicole |title=Yoga for Kids to Teens |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSs4faadO6wC&pg=PA167 |year=2008 |publisher=Sunstone Press |isbn=978-0-86534-686-4 |page=167}}

Niralamba Uttanasana has the hands touching the waistband rather than reaching down.{{cite book |last1=Ramaswami |first1=Srivatsa |author-link=Srivatsa Ramaswami |last2=Krishnamacharya |first2=Tirumalai |author2-link=Tirumalai Krishnamacharya |title=The complete book of vinyasa yoga: an authoritative presentation, based on 30 years of direct study under the legendary yoga teacher Krishnamacharya |date=2005 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=978-1-56924-402-9 |page=16 }}

Padahastasana has the hands under the toes and feet, palms up.{{cite web | url=http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/Standing%20Poses/padah/padah.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006212743/http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/Standing%20Poses/padah/padah.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=October 6, 2008 | title=Witold Fitz-Simon - Padahastasana | access-date=9 April 2011}}

• Paschimottanasana, a sitting forward bend

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Iyengar |first=B. K. S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar |title=Illustrated Light On Yoga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pbx5AAAACAAJ |date=1 October 2005 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-81-7223-606-9 |ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last=Saraswati |first=Swami Janakananda |author-link=Janakananda Saraswati |title=Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVLqCyTMFikC |date=1 February 1992|publisher=Weiser Books |isbn=978-0-87728-768-1 |ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last=Saraswati |first=Swami Satyananda |author-link=Swami Satyananda Saraswati |title=Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YpR1QgAACAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Nesma Books India |isbn=978-81-86336-14-4 |ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last=Saraswati |first=Swami Satyananda |author-link=Swami Satyananda Saraswati|title=A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWOrAAAACAAJ |date=January 2004 |publisher=Nesma Books India |isbn=978-81-85787-08-4 |ref=none}}

• {{cite web | url=http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/Standing%20Poses/uttan2/uttan2.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707035800/http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/Standing%20Poses/uttan2/uttan2.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=July 7, 2008 | title=Witold Fitz-Simon - Uttanasana}}

{{Asana}}

{{Yoga as exercise}}

Category:Standing asanas

Category:Forward bend asanas

Category:Surya Namaskar