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Akarna Dhanurasana (Sanskrit: आकर्ण धनुरासन; IAST: Ākarṇa Dhanurāsana), also called the Archer pose,^[1] Bow and Arrow pose,^[2] or Shooting Bow pose^[1] is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. The posture resembles an archer about to release an arrow.

Etymology and origins

The name of the pose is from Sanskrit कर्ण Karṇa, "ear" with the prefix Ā, "towards" or "near". धनुर Dhanura means "bow" and आसन asana means "posture" or "seat". The name alludes to a myth in the Ramayana in which the infant Sita is able to lift Shiva's enormous bow, and when she reaches marriageable age, only Rama is able to wield it, and so become her husband.^[3]

The pose is shown as Dhanurāsana in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi.^[4] It has its modern name in the 1966 Light on Yoga.^[5]

Pose labelled Dhanurāsana
in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi

Description

Akarna Dhanurasana involves pulling the foot towards the ear from a seated position with the legs outstretched. ^[5]^[6]

The pose can be prepared for with Marichyasana; Baddha Konasana is sometimes used to lead into Akarna Dhanurasana.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b "Akarm Dhanurasana – Archer Pose, The shooting bow pose". Yogaasan. 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2018.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Thomas, Dr. Tommijean; B.S., Benjamin A. Thomas (2008). Iyengar Yoga the Integrated and Holistic Path to Health: The Effective and Scientifically Investigated System of Yoga. Xlibris. p. 499. ISBN 978-1-4628-4365-7.
^ Newell, Zo. "The Mythology Behind Akarna Dhanurasana (Shooting Bow Pose)". Yoga International. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^ Sjoman, Norman E. (1999) [1996]. The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (2nd ed.). Abhinav Publications. Plate 18: Figure 109. ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
^ ^a ^b Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga: yoga dipika. Schocken Books. pp. 177–179. ISBN 0-8052-1031-8.
^ ^a ^b Schumacher, John (November 2010). "Take Aim". Yoga Journal.