07/28/2026
LIFT FIRST. THEN TURN.
A twist is not about how far you can look behind you.
It is about how much length you can maintain while you turn.
In many Iyengar Yoga sequences, twists are introduced after the legs have worked, the spine has extended and folded forward, and the mind has begun to settle.
Parivṛtta Sthiti—the family of twisting āsanas.
Every twist asks the same question:
What anchors you?
In Parivṛtta Trikoṇāsana, the back heel presses firmly down.
In Marīcyāsana III, both sitting bones remain grounded.
In every twist, the exhalation helps the body turn without force.
But where should the twist begin?
Not from the neck.
Not from the shoulders pulling themselves around.
The action begins deeper—around the navel, through the lower ribs and within the space shaped by the breath.
Before turning, ask:
Can the spine continue to rise?
Can the chest remain broad?
Can the breath move without strain?
This is why twists may be practised standing, seated, supported on a chair or adapted at the wall.
The support changes.
The principle remains:
Create length before rotation.
The next time you practise Bharadvājāsana, Marīcyāsana III or Parivṛtta Trikoṇāsana, pause before turning and ask:
Am I lifting first?
💬 Which cue has helped your twisting practice most: anchor, lengthen, exhale or rotate?
We read every response.
