Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Gorilla Pose Mean?
Gorilla pose is a standing forward bend. The body hinges at the hips and folds forward over the legs, which are as straight as the practitioner’s flexibility allows. The hands are placed palm-up under the soles of the feet, with the fingers pointing toward the toes.
The Sanskrit name for gorilla pose is padahastasana.
Yogapedia Explains Gorilla Pose
This is a fairly simple pose, but it can be challenging for practitioners with limited flexibility in the hamstrings or back of the body. Gorilla pose provides a good stretch for those areas, even in modified versions, including bending of the knees. Another variation allows for the practitioner to hold the big toes rather than placing the whole hand under the soles of the feet. For those with more flexibility, the intention is to fold the torso onto the thighs, with the forehead moving toward the shins and the crown of the head pointing to the floor.
Like all forward bends, gorilla pose is considered a calming pose. It is also an inversion, so it increases blood flow to the brain. This is a good pose for creating flexibility in the hamstrings and the back of the body. The hand position helps the neck and shoulders relax, and it is said to be therapeutic for those with carpal tunnel syndrome.
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.