June Pose of the Month
Parivrtta Trikonasana, the Revolved Triangle pose, is a complex pose that challenges your balance and flexibility. As you practice it, you may also find that it challenges your patience as you try to maintain stability physically and mentally in this deep standing twist. The key to success in this pose is about patience; which is essentially the secret to success in any pose and your overall practice on your mat in general. When putting patience into practice here in Revolved Triangle pose, it’s about really breaking down the pose into small attainable steps and focusing on getting each piece of the puzzle right before attempting the “fullest” expression of the pose.
When we can slow down a bit and put our focus on the small steps... learning about what needs to happen in our body first and giving ourselves time to feel that before rushing into the full pose... then it allows us to be more mindful and more focused on getting each piece of the puzzle in the right place. Say you get a puzzle and you have all the pieces, but don’t have a picture of what it’s supposed to look like. You’re focus at first may be on each piece individually, and then you may start to find a way to sort the pieces or create a system of organizing like-pieces. You start to put together a vision for what you think the puzzle should look like. This takes time, patience, and mindfulness.
Just like a yoga pose, especially a new or challenging one. You may not always know what pose the teacher is guiding you into or what it’s supposed to look like. You listen to the cues from the teacher and try to put it all together in your body, creating the shape as best as possible with each piece of the puzzle you’re given. Maybe you’re given all the pieces and you still can’t seem to put the puzzle together. Sometimes we need help from the props or need to take a modified variation of the pose. It takes patience with ourselves to recognize that. Practicing with patience requires disciplining the mind, your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success.
Invite patience to your yoga mat each and every time, so that you can cultivate the feelings of peace, love, and compassion. Patience helps us to experience more clarity in our thoughts and openness in our heart. It allows us to be open to the moment and to receive it more fully. It allows us to stay grounded.
Parivrtta Trikonasana is a great pose to practice with patience by breaking down the pose into pieces like a puzzle. This pose works and challenges every muscle in the body, so be patient. First, work on the position of the legs and back. Then, add the twist once you’re ready and have the other pieces in place, and if you can do so without compromising the length in your spine.
As you enter Parivrtta Trikonasana, try moving into the pose from Parsvottanasana (Pyramid/Intense Side Stretch pose), Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle pose), or Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I pose). Practice some twists beforehand to warm up the spine and bring awareness to the pelvis and hips.
If transitioning into Parivrtta Trikonasana from Parsvottanasana or Virabhadrasana I, focus on keeping the pelvis neutral, hips square, and heels grounded (both feet) with the back foot angled in about 45 degrees. If you’re heel wants to pop up, that’s okay. If it’s uncomfortable or makes you feel unstable you can add a blanket under the heel for support.
When you’re ready to practice Parivrtta Trikonasana, move into the pose slowly, patiently, and with your attention on your breath.
Active legs are a crucial element for standing twists, helping to create stability in your foundation and freedom in the torso, so before initiating the twist engage your thigh muscles and ensure the heels are grounded. Once you’ve gotten the pieces of the foundation in place, then bring your focus to the pelvis and hips. Keep them the same as in Parsvottanasana/Virabhadrasana I. When you’re ready to take the twist in Parivrtta Trikonasana, turn from your trunk (navel) so that the hips stay mostly square. Think of your hips as the anchor of this pose, which will help you to explore the thoracic area. Once you’re in the pose take a moment to observe your pose with full attention. Bring awareness to how the pose feels, how all the pieces of the puzzle fit and feel together. If it doesn’t fit or feel right, then remember patience. Invite a block under the bottom hand for support.
Use our pose of the month, Parivrtta Trikonasana, to start practicing patience on your mat. Hopefully it will inspire you to take the lessons on your mat off the mat, since the practice of patience can help us in all aspects of our lives.
“Ultimately, we practice patience with the path of yoga- recognizing that yoga is not something we get on our mat and “do” for an hour a few times a week, but a gradual unveiling of our true nature. And this takes dedicated effort, time, and the wisdom of patience.” - The House of Yoga
Practice Patience w/the Modifications in Parivrtta Trikonasana
Rest your back heel against a wall.
A narrower stance will also be more stable, so step your back foot in slightly if you need extra support.
Rest your bottom hand on a block.
Rest your back heel on a blanket if it pops up off the floor.
Come practice Parivrtta Trikonasana with us this month and if you practice it at home don’t forget to tag #soINyoga and @innerspringyoga to be entered in our Pose of The Month challenge for a chance to win a prize at the end of the month (contest runs June-August).
Namaste