Practice Point #90 - Pravritta Parsvakonasana

I received a question from Shelly Mcbean from the Australia. Their question is...

Hi Kate I am also wanting to know about Pravritta Parsvokanasana, in your pics you show heel up? I have always been instructed the outside of the back heel must be down, I know heel up helps to bring the back hip around and this does allow greater freedom, how do you suggest then to work toward heel down, it seems for me it has to be one or the other.

Yes you are correct there is more freedom in the hips with the back heel up and this is why I often teach this version.

Having said that the classical pose does have the heel down and while more freedom is found in the hips with the heel up more length in the torso and it is a much greater twist with the heel down which can feel fantastic to taste.

If taking the heel to the floor is out of reach try using a brick on its wide edge at the wall and taking your heel to the brick so that you have something for the heel to work towards.

Once the heel is reaching the brick you can take a half brick and gradually work towards the floor in this manner.

Another thing to note when attempting to take the heel to the floor is the extension of the arm which is hooked over the knee.

You can take the hands to a prayer position instead of extending the hand to the floor, this will give you a little more freedom to take the heel down.

Sometimes we have to give somewhere to reach somewhere else, then the body begins to learn how to extend in a new area and eventually all areas.

Don't be fixed on the final posture with the hand and heel on the floor, be curious and explore. Ask yourself questions and the learning will be rich.