Yoga Anatomy

Hanumanasana

Monkey Pose

ha-new-mahn-AHS-anna

hanumat = having large jaws; a monkey chief

Hanuman was the semidivine chief of an army of monkeys who served the god Rama.
As told in the Hindu epic Ramayana through the oral tradition, Hanuman once jumped
in a single stride the distance between Southern India and (Sri) Lanka. This split-leg pose
mimics his famous leap.

Classification

Asymmetrical seated forward-bending and backward-bending poseE5267/Kaminoff/fig7.21a/417720/alw/pulled-r2

Psoas major

Rectus femoris

Quadriceps

Hamstrings

Gluteus maximus

Pectoralis major

E5267/Kaminoff/fig7.21b/417721/alw/pulled-r2

Tensor fasciae latae

Adductor longus

Gracilis

Gluteus

maximus

Hamstrings

Gastrocnemius

Sartorius

Rectus femoris

Pectineus