yoga

56

december 2018 / january 2019

yogajournal.com.sg

The

TRANSVERSE PLANE

THIS PLANE DIVIDES THE BODY INTO UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS—as if the same imaginary pane of

glass cuts through your belly button. All movements in this plane involve rotation, either inward (internal rotation)

or outward (external rotation). You’re moving in the transverse plane when you turn your head to look out your

rearview mirror before merging into another traffic lane, or when you do “The Twist,” à la Chubby Checker.

In yoga, spinal twists such as Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose) and Parsva Sirsasana (Side

Headstand)—and even rotating one leg out at its hip socket to prepare for Virabhadrasana II (Warrior Pose II)—are

movements that happen in the transverse plane.

Poses that move in the transvers

D

m

th

pl

ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose

PARIVRTTA TRIKONASANA

Revolved Triangle Pose

Where’s the distortion?

Here’s Vrksasana (Tree Pose) with

distortions in the transverse plane:

EE HOW the lifted

nee and pelvis are

olling forward?

he fix She needs

o work her lifted leg

more here, rotating

he thigh out at the

ip socket so she can

ress it farther open.

SEE HOW one knee

is too far back, pulling

the pelvis and her

spine with it?

The fix If she can

press the top of

her standing thigh

backward, she’ll be

able to bring her right

knee (and that side of

the pelvis) forward.

e plane

pine

n?

h ...

again, her

entire spineis

in rotation?

...

irectionsof

movementin

he transverse

ane.

S

kn

ro

T

to

m

th

h

p