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Horse Pose

Last updated: December 21, 2023

What Does Horse Pose Mean?

Horse pose is an intermediate yoga pose that requires flexibility in the hips, as well as a strong core and resilient knees.

From mountain pose (tadasana), one foot is placed atop the opposite thigh as in half lotus pose (ardha padmasana). The knee of the standing leg bends, and the other knee is placed on the mat next to the standing foot. The arms raise with the forearms pointing up, and they wrap around each other so the elbows fit together and the palms meet. This is repeated on the opposite side.

Horse pose gets its name from the fact that the body resembles the face of a horse in this posture. It may also be referred to by its Sanskrit name, vatayanasana.

Horse Pose

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Yogapedia Explains Horse Pose

Horse pose is part of the intermediate series of Ashtanga yoga. According to the teachings of Iyengar yoga, it improves the blood's circulation through the hips and can fix small distortions in the thighs and hips. It also strengthens the core, hip, ankle and knee joints, as well as the leg muscles.

This pose is sometimes practiced with the hands placed in a simple namaskar mudra (salutation seal) position in front of the chest rather than wrapping the arms around each other.

Horse pose is an intermediate pose that should not be practiced by beginners without the assistance of a yoga instructor.


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Synonyms

Horse Face Pose

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