Yoga posture guide - The Shooting - bow - Pose (Akarna-Dhanura-asana)

Posture: Akarna-dhanura-asana: The Shooting-bow Pose

Translation: The Sanskrit word karna means ear and the prefix "a" means near to or towards. Dhanur means bow-shaped, curved or bent. The "bow" here referred to is a bow as in "bow and literally we could translate this as the near-the-ear bow arrow." posture but because of the obvious appearance of the posture we'll call it the shooting bow posture. 

Pronunciation:  ah-car-nah da-noor ah-sa-na

Difficulty:  (6) Requires flexibility of hips and legs.

While practicing this posture imagine yourself as an archer with the gaze focused on the target and the arrow firmly yet gracefully being pulled back in the bow. Hold the posture steady as an archer would hold the arrow aimed at its target. Return the foot to the floor gently. This simple technique will help cultivate a focused and unwavering attention. 

Instructions: 

• Sit on the floor with the legs together and extended straight out in front. Keep the back straight, shoulders level and head straight. Place the hands, palms down, flat on top of the thighs then inhale deeply. 
• Exhale and reach down and loop the forefinger of the right hand around the big toe of the right foot and grasp the left foot with the left hand. 
• Inhale and pull the right foot back placing the big toe next to the right ear. Straighten the back as much as possible and hold the posture for the duration of the inhale breath. 
• Exhale and return to the seated position of step #1 then repeat the posture on the opposite side. 

 "Having caught the toes of the feet with both hands and carried them to the ears by drawing the body like a bow, it becomes Dhanura-asana."

Variations:

Reverse the hands and feet so that that the right hand pulls the left foot to the left ear and vice versa. The foot gets pulled under the outstretched arm.