Parivritta Parsvakonasana (Revolved Side Angle Pose)

<h2> Parivritta Parsvakonasana. Revolved Side Angle Pose</h2>

"Parivritta" means turned, revolved around or backwards. "Parsva" means side. "Kona" means angle. This is the revolved side angle pose.

Parivritta Parsvakonasana in brief

1. Stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose).
2. Take a deep breath in and jump the feet 120-135 cm apart. Raise the arms out to the sides to shoulder level, palms facing down.
3. Turn the right foot 90° to the right and the left foot 60° to the right, keeping the left leg extended and the knee tight. Bend the right leg at the knee until the thigh and the calf form a right angle and the right thigh is parallel to the floor.
4. Exhale and turn the torso and the left leg so as to bring the left arm across the right knee. Place the left armpit against the outer side of the right knee and the left palm on the floor beside the outer edge of the right foot.
5. Twist the spine well (to the right), turn the torso and raise the right arm over the right ear. Direct the gaze towards the extended right arm. Keep the left knee firm throughout.
6. Hold the pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute, breathing deeply and evenly. Inhale and lift the left palm off the floor. Raise the torso and return to position 2, straightening the right leg and extending the arms out to the sides.
7. On an exhalation, repeat the pose to the left side (points 3-5).
8. Whenever an exercise is done first to one side and then to the other, the time spent in the asana must be the same on each side. This general rule applies here too.

Fine points of Parivritta Parsvakonasana:

Parivritta Parsvakonasana, like all other twists, is better begun with the right leg, because twists done first to the right and then to the left have a beneficial effect on the working of the intestines.
This pose demands effort, so if it is hard for you, you need not raise the arm overhead - leave it on the waist instead.
To extend the raised arm properly, you will need the help of another person.
While doing this pose, make sure the left leg stays straight.
Keep the right shin perpendicular to the floor.
 
A detailed description of Parivritta Parsvakonasana

In terms of difficulty, Iyengar gives «Padmasana» («the lotus pose») a rating of «four», while «Parivritta Parsvakonasana» gets a «nine» - that alone says that the pose is by no means, as the poet put it, «kissing a mermaid or a stroll by moonlight». It is better to begin this asana by first kneeling on the floor on one knee, say the right, and making a standard lunge with the left leg.
On an exhalation, turn the torso and take the right arm behind the left leg, which is in the lunge, on its outer side, so that the arm is parallel to the part of the left leg between the knee and the ankle. This arm presses into the floor, with the palm or the fingers - whichever your proportions and build allow, that is, the reserves of fat stored at the waist.
Then, while relaxing, the shoulder girdle must be turned further (more precisely - allowed to turn further) so that the left shoulder travels on, upwards (once it has passed the highest point of its «trajectory» in this position, then in effect, after a turn of more than two «pi», the shoulder will already be moving downwards and back), and the left arm is taken behind the back. Keeping the breath free and staying relaxed, remain like this for half of the holding time. Then lift the right knee off the floor, straighten that leg and place it on the floor with the whole foot. At the same time draw the left arm out from behind the back and extend it forwards and upwards, so that it continues the line of the side of the body.
Breathe freely, although the range of the breath will narrow considerably. The abdomen is completely relaxed. The body is twisted at the waist through one hundred and eighty degrees, yet the effort of holding the form does not «strike» the head or the pit of the stomach. The breath - I repeat - is calm, and as far as possible it should be consciously kept relaxed, which allows the abdomen to stay relaxed as well. Having held the pose for the second half of the time, come down slowly onto the right knee with an inhalation, untwist the torso and sit down comfortably.
For beginners this pose is usually extremely unfamiliar, and at first it is best done next to, say, a sofa, without extending the upper arm into the required line continuing the outline of the side, but instead resting it on any suitable object. If the leg being straightened at the knee will not settle onto the whole foot straight away, rest it on the toes at first. The main difficulty is to keep the lunge in the required shape of a right angle (rather than an obtuse or an acute one) and not too skewed, and also to keep the arm from slipping out from behind the knee of the opposite leg.
The asana is quite hard for stiff people, but with regular practice it will become - like all the «standing» poses - a favourite.
Contraindications for «Parivritta Parsvakonasana»: a bad lower back, acute conditions of the internal organs, intestinal neurosis, inguinal hernia.
The pose is very useful in cases of poor digestion and a poor condition of the abdominal organs. It is interesting that regular practice of the «standing» asanas removes the problem of constipation entirely. (V. Boyko, YIK)

The effects of practising Parivritta Parsvakonasana

This pose, being more intense than Parivritta Trikonasana, has a stronger effect. The hamstrings, however, are stretched less than in Parivritta Trikonasana. The abdominal organs are compressed more strongly, which improves digestion. The circulation of blood around the abdominal organs and the spinal column increases, rejuvenating them. This asana helps waste to pass out of the rectum without straining.