Karnapidasana

Ear-to-Knee Pose

Notes

Extensors of the spine should all lengthen evenly, ensuring that the opening is distributed along the whole spine. When the arms move overhead and the scapulae spread away from the spine, the weight bearing shifts to the spinous processes of the thoracic spine from the scapulae.

This variation can overstretch the thoracic and cervical spine due to the weight of the legs and pelvis, directing pressure into the vulnerable muscles of the neck and upper back. This counterposes the shoulder action of sarvangasana because the spinal extension and scapular adduction of shoulder stand is reversed, so the muscles that were active are now lengthening. If the release is too passive, however, the muscles can be overlengthened.

Images from the book Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews displayed on this website are used under license.