Yoga Anatomy

Anantasana

Reclining Vishnu Couch Pose

anan-TAHS-anna

ananta = endless, eternal (anta = end, an = without)

Ananta is also the name given to the mythical serpent that the god Vishnu reclines on like
a couch.

E5267/Kaminoff/fig9.21/417778/alw/pulled-r2

Soleus

Gastrocnemius

Gracilis

Semimembranosus

Semitendinosus

Adductor magnus

Adductor longus

Gracilis

Internal

oblique

External

oblique

Pectineus

Classification

Asymmetrical side-lying balancing pose

Skeletal joint actions

Spine Upper limbs Lower limbs

Top armBottom armTop legBottom leg

Lateral flexion Shoulder abduc-

tion, elbow

extension

Scapular upward

rotation and

elevation,

shoulder flex-

ion, elbow

flexion

Hip flexion,

abduction,

and external

rotation; knee

extension

Neutral hip

extension,

knee exten-

sion

(continued)