cobra pose

The name Bhujangasana comes from the Sanskrit words {{Lang|sa|भुजंग}} {{Lang|sa-Latn|bhujaṅga}}, "snake" and आसन āsana, "posture" or "seat", from the resemblance to a snake with its head raised;{{cite web |title=Bhujangasana, Bhujanga-asana, Bhujaṅgāsana: 2 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhujangasana |website=Wisdom Library |access-date=6 June 2023}} it was described in the 17th century hatha yoga text Gheranda Samhita in chapter 2, verses 42–43. In the 19th century Sritattvanidhi, the pose is named सरपासन Sarpāsana, "Serpent Pose", from {{Lang|sa|सरप}}, {{Lang|sa-Latn|sarpa[m]}}, "serpent" or "snake".{{cite book |last=Sjoman |first=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 |edition=2nd |orig-year=1996 |isbn=81-7017-389-2 |page=71 }} Yogi Narayana Ghamande described and illustrated the pose in halftone as Bhujangasana in the 1905 Yogasopana Purvacatuska.{{cite book |last=Ghamande |first=Narayana |chapter=Bhujangasana |title=Yogasopana Purvacatuska |year=1905 |publisher=Janardan Mahadev Gurjar, Niranayasagar Press |location=Bombay |edition=1st |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.365613/page/n77/mode/2up |page=77}}

Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana ({{langx|sa|ऊर्ध्वमुखश्वानासन}} IAST: {{Lang|sa-Latn|Urdhva mukha śvānāsana}}) is from the Sanskrit {{Lang|sa|ऊर्ध्व}} {{Lang|sa-Latn|Urdhva}}, "upwards"; {{Lang|sa|मुख}} {{Lang|sa-Latn|Mukha}}, "face"; and {{Lang|sa|श्वान}} {{Lang|sa-Latn|Shvana}}, "dog".{{sfn|Mehta|Mehta|Mehta|1990|p=91}} The pose is one of those (along with Downward Dog) introduced by Krishnamacharya in the mid-20th century from Surya Namaskar, Salute to the Sun. That exercise was not until then considered to be yoga. It was later taught by his pupils Pattabhi Jois and B. K. S. Iyengar.{{sfn|Singleton|2010|pp=204-205}}{{cite web |last=Singleton |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Singleton (yoga scholar) |title=The Ancient & Modern Roots of Yoga |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/yoga-s-greater-truth |publisher=Yoga Journal |date=4 February 2011}}

File:Naja naja cobra a lunettes 69.JPG|A cobra with its hood raised

File:Sarpasana in Sritattvanidhi.jpg|Sarpasana, Serpent Pose, in Sritattvanidhi, 19th century

File:Bhujangasana in Yogasopana.jpg|Bhujangasana in Yogasopana Purvacatuska, 1905

The pose may be entered from a prone position or from Downward Dog. The palms are placed under the shoulders, pushing down until the hips lift slightly. The backs of the feet rest on the ground, the legs outstretched; the gaze is directed forwards, giving the preparatory pose. For the full pose, the back is arched until the arms are straight, and the gaze is directed straight upwards or a little backwards. In Bhujangasana the legs remain on the ground, whereas in Upward Dog the hips, thighs and knees are lifted slightly off the ground.{{sfn|Iyengar|1979|pp=107–108, 396–397}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/surya-namaskara-a-sun-salutation/item/urdhva-mukha-shvanasana/ |title=Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana | website=AshtangaYoga.info | access-date=2011-04-11}}{{cite web |url=http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/474 |title=Upward-Facing Dog | Yoga Poses |date=18 October 2008 |publisher=Yoga Journal |access-date=2 August 2013}} Salabhasana, Locust pose, or Sphinx pose can be used to prepare for bhujangasana.{{cite web |last=Dehnke |first=Andrea |date=28 August 2007 |title=Cobra Pose |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/cobra-pose-2/ |access-date=30 July 2022 |website=Yoga Journal}}

Bhujangasana is part of the sequence of yoga postures in some forms of Surya Namaskar, the Salute to the Sun.{{cite web |title=Surya Namaskara |url=http://sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=1233 |publisher=Divine Life Society |access-date=19 July 2019 |date=2011}} Balasana, child's pose, is a counter pose for bhujangasana.

An easier variant is Sphinx Pose, sometimes called Salamba Bhujangasana ({{Lang|sa|षलम्ब भुजंगासन}}) "Supported Cobra pose",{{cite web |title=Sphinx Pose -Salamba Bhujangasana |url=https://www.ekhartyoga.com/resources/poses/sphinx-pose |publisher=Ekhart Yoga |access-date=4 February 2019}} in which the forearms rest on the ground, giving a gentler backbend.{{cite web |author=Anon |title=Sphinx Pose |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/sphinx-pose |publisher=Yoga Journal |access-date=4 February 2019 |date=28 August 2007 |quote=Sphinx Pose is the infant of backbends.}} It is used in the long holds of Yin Yoga, either with the forearms on the ground or with the arms straightened.{{cite web |title=Sphinx & Seal |url=https://yinyoga.com/yinsights/sphinx-seal/ |publisher=Yin Yoga |access-date=26 July 2019}}

The pose can be modified, for instance, in pregnancy, by placing a blanket under the pelvis.

{{anchor|Upward Dog}}

Upward Dog pose, abbreviated "Updog", is entered with an inhalation from a prone position (or from Chaturanga Dandasana or Ashtanga Namaskara in a Surya Namaskar cycle), taking the feet a little apart. The legs are stretched out straight, the toes out (not tucked under), and the weight of the body is supported on the hands with outstretched arms so the hips are off the ground. The gaze is directed straight upwards, so the neck and back are arched.{{sfn|Mehta|Mehta|Mehta|1990|p=91}}

File:IMG 0549 2 Sphinx.jpg|Yin Yoga's Sphinx pose, an easier variant

File:Upward-facing dog pose.jpg|Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana, Upward Dog Pose, has the hips off the ground.

• Salabhasana, Locust pose, a prone backbending asana

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Bhujangasana}}

• {{cite book |last=Iyengar |first=B. K. S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar |title=Light on Yoga |title-link=Light on Yoga |publisher=Thorsons |year=1979 |orig-year=1966 |isbn=978-1855381667}}
• {{cite book | last=Jain | first=Andrea |author-link=Andrea Jain | title=Selling Yoga: from Counterculture to Pop culture | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2015 | isbn=978-0-19-939024-3 | oclc=878953765 |ref=none }}
• {{cite book |last1=Mehta |first1=Silva |last2=Mehta |first2=Mira |author2-link=Mira Mehta |last3=Mehta |first3=Shyam |date=1990 |title=Yoga: The Iyengar Way |publisher=Dorling-Kindersley}}
• {{cite book |last=Newcombe |first=Suzanne |author-link=Suzanne Newcombe |year=2019 |title=Yoga in Britain: Stretching Spirituality and Educating Yogis |location=Bristol, England |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-661-0 |ref=none }}
• {{cite book | last=Singleton | first=Mark |author-link=Mark Singleton (yoga teacher) | title=Yoga Body: the origins of modern posture practice | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-19-539534-1 | oclc=318191988 }}

{{Asana}}

{{Hatha yoga}}

{{Yoga as exercise}}

Category:Backbend asanas

Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas