Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute), Standing Backbends (Hasta Uttanasana / Anuvittasana / Extended Tadasana) & Drop Back — Overview — for Yoga Teachers, Yoga Therapists, Health & Wellness Coaches, Holistic Healthcare Providers
About this Asana Digest
Poses
Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute), plus Standing Backbends: Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Hands), Anuvittasana (Standing Backbend), Extended Tadasana (Extended Mountain) and Drop Back
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 – Standing Poses
Urdhva Hastasana
Upward Salute
Hasta Uttanasana
Raised Hands Pose
Also known as: Raised Arms Pose or Talasana (Palm Tree Pose)
Anuvittasana
“anuvitta” = found, obtained
Standing Backbend
Also called Extended Tadasana (Extended Mountain Pose)
Naming Conventions
- In Urdhva Hastasana, the spine is lengthened up for axial extension.
- The other poses in this digest are different names for a standing backbend: Anuvittasana (Standing Backbend), Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Hands Pose) and Extended Tadasana (Extended Mountain Pose).
Surya Namaskar
These poses are part of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) and related vinyasas.
- Some sources teach Upward Salute in their vinyasas and some teach a Standing Backbend.
- Most sources use a Standing Backbend in the Classical (Lunge) Salute and Urdhva Hastasana in Surya Namaskar A. Joseph and Lilian LePage use this approach in Yoga Teachers’ Toolbox 2005 pgs 11-12 (referring to the Standing Backbend as Extended Tadasana). link
Sources that teach Surya Namaskar with Urdhva Hastasana include:
- David Swenson, Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual 1999 p 17 (For Surya Namaskar A, Swenson does not call the pose by name but simply demonstrates it — with no backbend.) link
- Silva Mehta, Yoga: The Iyengar Way 2009 pgs 146-147 (Surya Namaskar A) link
- Martin Kirk & Brooke Boon, Hatha Yoga Illustrated 2006 pgs 210-211 (Both Surya Namaskar A and Classical Sun Salute) link
- Beryl Bender Birch, Power Yoga 1995 pgs 63-71 (Urdhva Hastasana with palms together and upward gaze, Surya Namaskar A) link
Sources that teach Surya Namaskar with a Standing Backbend include:
- Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha 2008 pgs 162-174 (Classical Sun Salute) link
- Dharma Mittra, Asanas: 608 Yoga Poses 2003 pgs 24-35 (Classical Sun Salute) link
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