Revolved Triangle Pose Step-By-Step
- Start in the standing position. Step your left foot back and turn the heel to land it on your mat.
- Open your arms wide and take a breath in. On the exhale, lean towards the front leg and rest your left hand on your right foot.
- Begin twisting to your right, broadening across the front of your chest and reaching your right arms directly to the sky. Bring your gaze to the top hand.
- Stay here for 3-5 breaths, focusing on deepening the twist and maintaining your balance.
- Come back to standing and repeat on the other side.
Revolved Triangle Pose Quick Look
Sanskrit Name: Parivrtta Trikonasana
Pose Type: Standing Yoga Poses, Strengthening Yoga Poses, Twist Yoga Poses
Difficulty Level: Intermediate pose
Targets: Hamstrings, hips, chest, spine, and shoulders
Benefits: Like Trikonasana, the revolved version still brings intense focus to the hamstring, especially of the front leg. Except for this time, instead of turning the hips and chest away from the front leg, you try and twist towards it (and beyond). The twisting action activates the obliques, which are an important part of the core. The spine is elongated even in the twisted position, improving upper-body mobility. The twist also affects your internal organs, applying pressure to give them a gentle “massage”. This results in improved digestion, as well as relief for other gastrointestinal unrest, menstrual cramps, and more. The shoulder and arm position force the body into opening the chest and broadening the space between the collarbone, improving breathing ability and blood circulation.
Preparatory Poses: Triangle Pose, Standing Forward Bend Pose, Wide-Legged Forward Bend Pose, Seated Twist
Notes
Revolved Triangle Pose is the twisted variation of Extended Triangle pose. It features many of the same elements while introducing the additional challenge of balance, contortion, and coordination. Due to the more advanced nature of this asana, it’s important to take safety precautions when performing this pose. It’s also important to maintain steady, controlled breaths to see you through the practice.
“Even after nearly a decade of practice, this pose feels challenging,” says Yoga Answered contributor Cat Harvey. “I guess when it comes to Revolved Triangle, there is always room for improvement. You can always work on a deeper twist, better alignment, or sharper focus.”
Beginner’s Tip
This pose is quite a deep twist, which may not be available to you if you’re new to yoga. To work towards the full pose, you can start with modified Revolved Triangle. For example, instead of turning the back foot, you can keep both feet pointed forward. You can also rest your hand on a yoga block if reaching down to your foot is too much. It’s also important to remember that the upper body twist should come from the chest and shoulders so that you don’t end up simply throwing your arm back.