Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics

C0 Prepared by Lois Steinberg, Ph.D.

Figures 1-44 depict many asana adaptations for respiratory conditions
such as asthma, cold/flu. The poses are also beneficial for abdominal
disorders during a flare-up, such as diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome.
Figure 1. Savasana
on the Simhasana
box. Bolster on box,
blanket for head,
blanket for buttocks,
and bricks to support
hand. Slanting plank
under diaphragm (not
pictured) .

Figure 2. Cross
Bolsters. Support
head in Jalandhara
Bandha position.
Slanting plank under
diaphragm.

Figure 3. Supta
Baddha Konasana.
Bolster for supporting
the torso, blanket for
head, strap to hold
feet in to perineum.
May place blankets
under thighs for
support and slanting
plank under diaphragm
(not pictured).

1
\

Figure 4. Supta
Virasana. Bolster for
supporting the torso,
blanket support for the
head. May use
additional support of
Simhasana box as in
Figure 1.

Figure 5. Supta
Swastikasana.
Bolster for supporting
the torso, blanket
support for the head.

Figure 6.
Matsyasana. Bolster
for supporting the
torso, blanket for the
head.

2
Figure 7. Sal a mba
Purvottanasana.
Two bolsters to
support the extension
of the back, blanket
for the head, belt to
the upper thigh, feet
on Simhasana box.
Slanting plank may be
placed under the
diaphragm (not
pictured).

Figure 8. Viparita
Dandasana on the
bench. Bolster under
the feet, bolster and
rolled blanket under
the head and neck,
respectively. Slanting
plank may be placed
under the diaphragm
(not pictured).

Figure 9. Viparita
Dandasana on the
chair. Alternate
support to Figure 8.
Brick to feet, belt to
upper thighs, head
supported by bolster.

3
Figrue 10. L-Shape
Dandasana with
Swastikasana legs.
Support back with
bolsters, blanket
support under head,
hands supported by
bricks, buttocks
supported with two
folded blankets.
Slanting plank at
diaphragm (not
pictured).

Figure 11. L-Shape

Dandasana with
Baddha Konasana
legs. Support as
described above with
weight to feet. May
have blankets under
thighs and slanting
plank at diaphragm
(not pictured).

Figure 12. L-Shape

Dandasana with
Upavistha Konasana
legs. As above with
weight to inner heels
to keep the legs apart.

4
 Figure 13. L-Shpae
Dandasana. As above
with legs apart hip-
width and weight to
support feet.

Figure 14. Rope 1.

Support feet with
Simhasana box, or
bricks may be used in
place of box.

Figure 15. Stump

off the platform.
Support buttocks with
bolster. Place stump
between shoulder
blades toward
diaphragm.

5
 Figure 16. Rope
Sirsasana. With
Baddha Konasana legs.

Figure 17. Rope

Sirsasana. With
Baddha Konasana legs,
torso supported with a
Simhasana box, bolster
and blanket to open the
.. chest and give the
head a Jalandhara
Bandha position.

6
Figure 18.
Sirsasana with
shoulders supported by
sticks on the chair.

Figure 19. Urdhva

Mukha Svanasana on
the chair.

7
Figure 20. Urdhva
Mukha Svanasana on
the platform. Hands
may also be placed
behind the thighs,
catching them (not
pictured) .

Figure 21. Urdhva

Dhanurasana with
support,
preparation stage.
Chest supported on
stool and bolster with
hands up on Viparita
Dandasana bench.

8
Figure 22. Urdhva
Dhanurasana with
support.

Figure 23. Urdhva

Dhanurasana
unsupported.

Figure 24.
Ustrasana with
support of Halasana
Box. Bolsters to
support chest.
Slanting plank under
diaphragm (not
pictured).

9
Figure 25. Adho
Mukha Svanasana on
upper rope and
Simhasana box.
Hands hold box, head
on box and bolster,
upper rope tied as for
rope sirsasana, feet
supported by Simhasna
box.

Figure 26. Adho

Mukha Svanasana on
lower rope. Bolster
support to head, heels
to support of wall.

10
Figure 27. Ardha
Uttanasana on the
platform with
Setubandha Bench.
Bricks under feet,
blanket folded under
forhead. Chin up for
respiratory conditions
(not pictured).

Figure 28. Ardha

Uttanasana on the
tall stool. May add
more blanket support
to give pressure to the
diaphragm.

11
Figure 29.
Prasarita ;
Padottanasana on
the
Pavanmuktanasana
bench. Brick under
chin for chin up
support.

Figure 30.
Pavanmuktanasana
on the bench.
Blanket under the
buttock, bolster under
the torso, chin up on
brick/blanket.

Figure 31. Adho

Mukha
Swastikasana.
Support chin up.
Weight may be placed
on dorsal region of the
back.

12
Figure 32. Parsva
Adho Mukha
Swastikasana.
Support with
Simhasana bench and
bolster, or two
bolsters. Blankets
under buttocks.

Figure 33. Janu

Sirsasana concave
back/chin up.
Blankets under
buttocks.

Figure 34. Parsva

Janu Sirsasana
with support.
Blankets under
buttocks.

13
 Figure 35.
Paschimottanasana
concave back/chin
up. Blankets under
buttocks.

Figure 36.
Paschimottanasana
concave back/chin
up. Shown with
buttocks supported
higher up with bolster
so chest can open to
the front more.

-·
Figure 37.
Upavistha Konasana
concave back/chin
up. Bolster under the
bottocks.

14
'

Figure 38. Chair

\
Bharadvajasana.

15
Figure 39. Chair
Bharadvajasana
variation. To open
armpit chest more.

Figure 40. Chair

Sarvangasana.
Bolster under
shoulders.

16
'

Figure 41. Ardha

Halasana on the
box.

Figure 42. Bhisma

Charyasana. Three
bricks placed
vertically together
under the sacrum. Two
stacked bricks, one
horizontal and the
other vertical , placed
between the shoulder
blades.

Figure 43.
Setubandha
Sarvangasana on
the bench. Belt to
upper thighs, bolster
support under
shoulders.

17
Figure 44. Viparita
Karani. Brick against
the wall, tri-fold
blanket four inches in
front of brick, bolster
on blanket slanted
down to floor in front
of brick. Double-fold
blanket over brick and
bolster, blanket under
head and neck. The
student should feel
that the tail bone is
lower than the chest.

18
 lower Rope Adho Mukha
' Svanasana. Toes in fur
lower back problems and
hands up on blocks for
shoulder problems.

Parivrtta Trikonasana at
the trestler. Back heel up
on quarter round brick.
 Utthita Hasta
Padangusthasana I with
support of the raised leg
and arms to upper ropes.

Marichyasana I on the
Simhasana box .

..
Marichyasana I on the
Simhasana box.
The following series is a sequence
practiced by the student while
undergoing chemotherapy.

Lower Rope Ardha

Uttanasana on the
Halasana box. Bolster
support to chest, chin up on
blanket or brick. May do
with forehead resting on
blanket (not pictured) .

Pavanmuktanasana on
the bench. Blanket under
buttock, bolster under torso,
chin up on blanket. May do
with forehead resting on
blanket (not pictured).
Prasarita Padottanasana
on the bench. Bolster
under torso, blanket rolled
under lower abdomen, chin
up on blanket. May do with
forehead resting on blanket
(not pictured).

Cross bolsters. Head

supported on blankets.

Supta Baddha Konasana.

Buttock should be elevated.
Ropes behind knees for knee
problems. Head supported
with blanket.
Supta Swastikasana.
Support under buttock with
blanket.
'

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