Kat Saks Yoga

“Until one has practised the posture, one does not realise the weight and pressure of the leg which rests on the neck.” – BKS Iyengar on Eka Pada Sirsasana (Foot-Behind-the-Head Pose)

Eka Pada Sirsasana registers as 15* on the 60* scale of difficulty in Light on Yoga. I didn’t actually think I’d find this pose too difficult. Swinging my leg behind my head has become more commonplace as I practice more often and more rigorously. For me, the greater challenge of Eka Pada Sirsasana arose when I took my hands off the ground into Anjali mudra.

BKS Iyengar says that you don’t realize how weighty your leg is on the back of your neck until you try this pose. I would offer a more detailed statement: you don’t realize how weight your leg is on the back of your neck until you take your hands off the ground. When your hands are on the ground, you can press down into your arms to help you sit up tall and shift your leg weight off of your neck and onto your shoulders. But, removing your hands from the ground is a game-changer. All of the sudden, you must rely solely on the strength of your core abdominal muscles, your back, your shoulders and your neck to keep from collapsing under the surprisingly heavy weight of your shin.

Try this pose both ways – hands on the floor next to your hips, then hands in front of your heart. Observe the differences. What do you notice most?