Ustrasana

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Kneeling back-bending posture in modern yoga

title: "Ustrasana" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["backbend-asanas"] description: "Kneeling back-bending posture in modern yoga" topic_path: "general/backbend-asanas" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ustrasana" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Kneeling back-bending posture in modern yoga ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Ustrasana_Yoga-Asana_Nina-Mel.jpg" caption="Ustrasana"] ::

Ustrasana (; ), Ushtrasana, or Camel Pose is a kneeling back-bending asana in modern yoga as exercise.

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words उष्ट्र Uṣṭra, meaning "camel", and आसन Asana, meaning "posture" or "seat".

A different (standing) pose is given the name Ushtrasana in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi. The modern pose is described in the 20th century by two of Krishnamacharya's pupils, Pattabhi Jois in his Ashtanga (vinyasa) yoga, and B. K. S. Iyengar in his 1966 Light on Yoga.

Description

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ardha_Ustrasana_-International_Day_of_Yoga_Celebration-NCSM-_Kolkata_2015-06-21_7352.JPG" caption="An [[International Day of Yoga]] class in [[Kolkata]] practising Ardha Ustrasana, Half Camel pose"] ::

Ustrasana is a deep backward bend from a kneeling position; the completed pose has the hands on the heels. The backs of the feet may be flat on the floor, or the toes may be tucked under for a slightly less strong backbend.

The pose is one of the 26 asanas in the Bikram Yoga sequence.

Variations

The name Ardha Ustrasana, Half Camel pose, is given to two different poses. One is an easier modification with the hands on the hips; the other has one hand on the heel on the same side, as in the full pose, and the other arm stretched back over the head.

The pose can be modified by providing supports such as yoga bricks beside the calves for the hands.

References

Sources

References

  1. "Yoga Journal - Camel Pose".
  2. "Dhanurasana". AshtangaYoga.
  3. Sinha, S. C.. (June 1996). "Dictionary of Philosophy". Anmol Publications.
  4. (7 February 2019). "How to Do Camel Pose (Ustrasana) in Yoga". Very Well Fit.
  5. "26 Bikram Yoga Poses".
  6. "Camel pose modifications, half Camel pose for beginners, ardha ustrasana steps and benefits". Vishwanti Yoga.
  7. "Half Camel: Ardha Ustrasana". Yoga Basics.
  8. Swanson, Ann. (2019). "Science of yoga : understand the anatomy and physiology to perfect your practice". [[DK Publishing]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

backbend-asanas