Australian Yoga Journal - April 2018

72

april 2018

yogajournal.com.au

he

RANSVERSE PLANE

Poses that move in the tra

Where’s the distortion?

Here’s Vrksasana (Tree Pose) with

distortions in the transverse plane:

ee how...

lifted knee and pelvi

rolling forward?

E FIX She needs to

rk her lifted leg more

e, rotating the thigh

at the hip socket so

can press it farther

en.

ee how...

knee is too far back,

ng the pelvis and

spine with it?

FIX If she can press

top of her standing

h backward, she’ll

able to bring her right

e (and that side of

pelvis) forward.

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 traffi c 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.

Directions of

movement in

the transverse

plane.

See how...

her entire spine

is in rotation?

See how...

again, her

entire spine is

in rotation?

ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA PARIVRTTA TRIKONASANA

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose Revolved Triangle Pose