Yoga Anatomy

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose

ARD-hah MOTS-yen-DRAHS-anna

ardha = half; matsya = fish; indra = ruler, lord

Sage Matsyenda was a renowned teacher of yoga who, according to legend,

developed this pose.

Classification

Asymmetrical seated twisting pose

Skeletal joint actions

Spine Upper limbs Lower limbs

Front arm

(contralateral

to top leg)Back armTop legBottom leg

Rotation

toward top

leg

Neutral scapula,

shoulder abduc-

tion, elbow

flexion

Shoulder exten-

sion, elbow

extension,

wrist dorsi-

flexion

Hip flexion and

adduction,

knee flexion,

foot on floor

Hip flexion,

external rota-

tion, and

adduction;

knee flexion;

ankle plantar

flexion

E5267/Kaminoff/fig7.19b/417694/alw/pulled-r3

Sternocleidomastoid

Piriformis

Piriformis

Superior gemellus

Obturator internus

Inferior gemellus

E5267/Kaminoff/fig7.19a/417693/alw/pulled-r3

Splenius

capitis

Rhomboids

Erector

spinae

Serratus

anterior