Yoga Anatomy

Paschimottanasana

West (Back) Stretching

POS-chee-moh-tan-AHS-anna

pascha = behind, after, later, westward; uttana = intense stretch

The back of the body is referred to as west because of the traditional practice of facing the
rising sun when performing morning worship. Compare with purvottanasana, a stretch for
the front of the body (purva = in front, before, eastward).

E5267/Kaminoff/fig7.9/417675/alw/pulled-r1

Gastrocnemius Hamstrings

Gluteus

maximus

Erector

spinae

E5267/Kaminoff/fig7.10/417676/alw/pulled-r2

Plantar

fascia

Scalp

fascia

Erector

spinae

Sacrotuberous

ligament

Hamstrings

Gastrocnemius

Achilles

tendon

The back line of the body is a continuous network of muscle and fascia that extends from the
soles of the feet (plantar fascia) to the scalp fascia and the ridge of the brow.

Classification

Symmetrical seated forward-bending pose

Skeletal joint actions

Spine Upper limbs Lower limbs

Mild flexion Scapular abduction and

upward rotation, shoulder

flexion and adduction,

elbow extension

SI joint nutation, hip flexion

and adduction, knee exten-

sion, ankle dorsiflexion