Ustrasana

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Ustrasana (Sanskrit: उष्ट्रासन; IAST: Uṣṭrāsana), Ushtrasana, or Camel Pose^[1] is a kneeling back-bending asana in modern yoga as exercise.

The name comes from the Sanskrit words उष्ट्र Uṣṭra, meaning "camel",^[2] and आसन, Asana meaning "posture" or "seat".^[3]

A different (standing) pose is given the name Ushtrasana in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi.^[4] The modern pose is described in the 20th century by two of Krishnamacharya's pupils, Pattabhi Jois in his Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga,^[5] and B. K. S. Iyengar in his 1966 Light on Yoga.^[6]

Ustrasana is a deep backward bend from a kneeling position; the completed pose has the hands on the heels.^[7] The backs of the feet may be flat on the floor, or the toes may be tucked under for a slightly less strong backbend.^[8]

The pose is one of the 26 asanas in the Bikram Yoga sequence.^[9]

The name Ardha Ustrasana, Half Camel pose, is given to two different poses. One is an easier modification with the hands on the hips;^[10] the other has one hand on the heel on the same side, as in the full pose, and the other arm stretched back over the head.^[11]

The pose can be modified by providing supports such as yoga bricks beside the calves for the hands.^[8]

• List of asanas

• Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika. Unwin Paperbacks. ISBN 978-1855381667.
• Sjoman, Norman E. (1999) [1996]. The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 81-7017-389-2.