Parsvottanasana (Pyramid Pose) Simplified!

I frequently use Parsvottanasana (Pyramid Pose) to emphasize the importance of aligning the spine and using the legs to support the upper body. What I like about the pose is that there is so much you can do with it, whether you’re keeping it simple and only going into it partially or going deeper into the complexities of this simultaneous backbend/forward bend.

In this post I offer you several approaches to a simplified version of Parsvottanasana that I believe makes the pose available to nearly everyone.

You can do the pose without any props, but could incorporate a yoga belt and a chair, if you like. And if you have a small amount of wall space available — no wider than about two feet — you can really find a lot of depth even in this simplified version of the pose. If you don’t have open wall space, you can practice using a closed door. Just make sure that if you have other people in your space, they know not to open the door into you while you practice! (Or maybe lock the door.)

In my next post, I’ll explore ways to practice the poses more deeply. Start here, and join me next time for Parsvottanasana (Pyramid Pose) in its more complete form.

Watch the video below for complete instruction:

Lindel Hart teaches yoga online for PerfectFit Wellness. He lives in Western Massachusetts and teaches at Deerfield Academy, a private residential high school, as well as at Community Yoga and Wellness in Greenfield, MA. Visit his website, Hart Yoga.