AustralianYogaJournal-April2018

(Marcin) #1

69


april 2018

yogajournal.com.au

The


SAGITTAL PLANE


Poses that move in the sagit


Where’s the distortion?


If you’re a teacher and notice something’s off when a
student practices a pose but you’re not sure in which plane
the problem is occurring, communicating how to correct
what’s off may be challenging. Recognising a distortion in
a specific plane is the secret to quickly and clearly helping
your students get into their fullest expression of a posture.
To practice seeing bodies this way, let’s look at Vrksasana
(Tree Pose) with a distortion in each of the three planes.
Here are two distortions in the sagittal plane:


how...
elvis is tipped
orly and her
is overarched?
IX She’ll want to
her pelvis and sp
utral, lengthen h
ne, and draw he
um toward her na

ee how...
pelvis is tucked
her spine is
ed (rounded)?
FIX She’ll want
ress the top of her
ding thigh back
press her shoulder
des into her chest.

THIS PLANE DISSECTS THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES of the body, as if the edge of a pane of
glass were dropped down the center of your crown through your midline. Sagittal
plane movements take place where this imaginary pane of glass sits—or parallel to
it—meaning any time you’re in fl exion (for example, forward folds) or extension
(such as backbends), you’re moving in the sagittal plane.
It is probably the most familiar, and most used, plane for all of us: When we drive,
hunch our heads over our smartphones, sit on the couch holding the remote control,
ride a bike, and walk down the street, we’re moving in the sagittal plane. In yoga, any
time you take your arms forward and reach them
overhead—whether you’re doing Urdhva Hastasana
(Upward Salute) or Adho Mukha Vrksasana
(Handstand)—you’re moving in the sagittal plane.

Directions of
movement
in the sagittal
plane.

See how...
her wrists are deeply
extended, shoulders
are partially flexed,
and her whole
spine is in deep flexion?


See how...
her shoulders and hips are
in flexion, her wrists are in
extension, and her ankles
are in flexion? See how...
her ankles, knees,
hips, and shoulders
are in flexion?

BAKASANA ADHO MUKHA SVANASANA UTKATASANA
Crane Pose Downward-Facing Dog Pose Chair Pose
Free download pdf