ASANA GUIDE

BRIDGE POSE — SETUBANDHASANA

Bridge Pose

This asana’s name is a very accurate description of the posture: Setu translates to “bridge”, and bandha to “joining”. Partial inversion and partial backbend, Setubandhasana is a unique combination of two of the main asana categories. As simple as this pose may seem, it requires very specific pelvis alignment and sufficient core engagement for safe back bending, and constitutes excellent foundation work for inversions such as Shoulder Stand and Plow Pose. The pose stretches the chest, neck and spine as well as the reproductive and digestive organs. It calms the mind and boosts mood, helping with anxiety, fatigue, and depression.

Sanskrit

Setubandhasana
सेतुबन्धासन

PRONUNCIATION

Setubandhasana
सेतुबन्धासन

TRANSLATION

Bridge (Setu).
Join (Bandha)Pose (Asana) – Bridge Pose

POSE TYPE

Supine pose

POSE CATEGORY

Supine pose

ORIGIN

Tirumalai Krishnamacharya

PERFORMANCE

Starting

Lie in a supine position on the ground, making sure that the head is in line with the spine. Bend the knees, and place the feet at a distance to the buttocks, keeping them parallel and hip distance apart.

Entering

The arms are alongside the torso. The shoulders are rolled backward to bring them close to each other. Peel the spine off the floor vertebrae by vertebrae while keeping the head and the top of the shoulders on the ground. Raise the chest and navel as high as possible, and push the chest towards the chin by pressing firmly into the legs. Keep the feet and shoulders in the same position. The soles of the feet remain flat on the floor.The hands may be interlocked, or the palms may face the ground. Very flexible students can aim to hold their ankles with the hands. In any case the lower legs have to be kept perpendicular to the ground, avoiding strain on the knees.In the final position, the body is supported by the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and feet.