yoga

55

december 2018 / january 2019

yogajournal.com.sg

Poses that move in the coronal plane

her front hip is adducted (and

externally rotated in the transverse

plane), her back hip is abducted,

and her shoulders are abducted?

her shoulders a

abducted and h

spine is laterally

flexed?

her spine is flexed laterally; both
shoulders are abducted, and her
lifted leg is abducted?

ANANTASANA TRIKONASANA CRESCENT

Side-Reclining Leg Lift Pose Triangle Pose Simple Standing Side Bend

Where’s the distortion?

Here’s Vrksasana (Tree Pose) with distortions in the
coronal plane:

HOWshe

ting in her

ding-leg hip?

fix She needs to

her standing-leg

h in toward her

ine.

HOW one hip

gher than the

er?

fix She needs to

s her lifted thigh

wn (adduction) to

l her pelvis side

de.

The

CORONAL PLANE

THIS PLANE DISSECTS THE FRONT OF THE BODY FROM THE BACK. This time, imagine

a pane of glass dropping through your midline and dissecting your front body (anterior) and

back body (posterior). Coronal plane movements occur where this imaginary pane of glass

sits, meaning any time you abduct (move away from the midline) and adduct (move toward

the midline). You’re moving in the coronal plane when you step one leg to the side, turn a

cartwheel, or bust out your best “Stayin’ Alive” dance moves, John Travolta style. In yoga,

Directions think of moving into Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose) or Parighasana (Gate Pose).

of movement

in the coronal

plane.

SEE

ishi

othe

The

pres

dow

leve

tosi

SEEH

is sitt

stand

Thef

hugh

thigh

midli

are

her

y

.