Scissor Yoga Pose

The Scissor pose goes by a few different names, including the Eight-Angle pose and Astavakrasana, which roughly translates from Sanskrit as “curved eight.” This challenging pose caters to advanced yoga practitioners. In an impressive feat of flexibility, the Sissor pose has you plant your hands on the ground pushup style as you wrap your legs around one arm and push them out to the side, keeping them elevated from the ground.

  1. How To

    • Thoroughly stretch your hips, back, arms and legs -- whether through preparatory yoga poses or other stretches -- before performing the Scissor pose. Toe touches, forward folds, planks and wide side lunges are ideal for pre-scissor stretching. To enter the pose, plant your hands on the ground on either side of you from a sitting position, with your elbows bent, bottom on the ground and legs gently crossed or extended in front of you, whichever is more comfortable. Hook your right leg over your right biceps, just below the shoulder, and cross your left foot over the top of your right foot. As you slowly enter a pushup position with your upper body, extend your legs out to your right side, holding them a few inches off the ground.

    Tips

    • If you find the Scissor pose difficult, try resting your lower hip or your feet -- or both -- on a sturdy object at first. After practicing this a few times, have a friend remove the object and hold the pose as long as you can. Each time you practice, you'll be able to hold it a little longer. When performing the Scissor pose, hold it for about 30 seconds to a minute. Repeat the pose twice, once with your feet pointing right and once with your feet pointing left.

    Benefits and Warnings

    • Because the Scissor pose tasks you with supporting all of your lower-body weight with your arms, it strengthens and tones your arm muscles as well as your wrists. The reliance on the upper body, however, means that those who suffer from wrist, hamstring, elbow or shoulder complications should avoid this pose. As a static position that engages the core, the Scissor pose also tones the abs.

    Complementary Poses

    • As an exercise done in sequences, yoga practice requires you to string together a series of complementary poses. The Uttanasana and Chaturanga Dandasana poses, respectively known as the Standing Forward Bend and Four-Limbed Staff pose, help prepare your body for the Scissor pose. This pose transitions smoothly into poses such as Dwi Pada Bhujasana, the Two-Handed Arm Balance, or Bhujapidasa, the Shoulder-Pressing pose.