VISVAMITRASANA

This sequence brings into an advanced posture VISVAMITRASANA, the posture of the sage Visvamitra or the posture of the advanced compass.

Visvamitrasana is a posture found in Ashtanga yoga series III but which is often performed in Vinyasa yoga and Iyengar yoga.

Visvamitra "which means friend of the world is one of the most revered sages in India. Visvamitra is the name of a famous sage who, one day while he was hunting, stopped at the hermitage of the sage Vasistha and saw Kamadhenu, the Cow of Plenty, asked the sage to give it to him in exchange for immense treasures. Upon the sage's refusal, the king tried to appropriate it by force. A long fight ensued, in which the king was defeated. Although greatly vexed, he was greatly impressed by the power inherent in Brahamanism. The king submitted to the most rigorous of asceticisms until successively he attained high status and great titles and was pleased when Vasistha himself l 'called Brahmarsi. This difficult asana is therefore dedicated to Vivasmitra. Source: The bible of yoga, BKS Iyengar.

Visvamitra strengthens the wrists and the entire surface of the hands, the abdominal organs, exercises the thigh muscles and strengthens the back muscles. Even if this asana is difficult, we can easily find a "little brother" for him that we make grow as we practice.