Lunges
Sun Salutations incorporate lunges. Lunges also prepare the body for other standing poses. These poses tone and strengthen the legs and back, while increasing the flexibility of groin and hip muscles. Lunges can help relieve back aches. The Revolved Prayer Twist is also known as Side Angle Pose (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) with hands in prayer position (Anjali Mudra). Revolved Prayer Twist stretches the back and really opens the spine, especially the area between the shoulder blades. Likewise, like other lunges, it promotes more flexibility in the hip muscles. This pose also opens the chest, thus improving one’s ability to breathe fully. It helps to strengthen the lower body and the core. Besides this variation from Low and High Lunge Positions, there are other variations of Prayer Twists that one can do from Chair Pose and Garland Pose.
Jenny in Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana) with hands in prayer position (Namaste) at Abbott Ridge, with Mount Sir Donald in the background, Glacier National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)
Jenny in Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana) with a twist and arm extended skyward on the summit of Mount Moriarity, Vancouver Island, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in Extended Side Angle Stretch (Utthita Parsvakonasana) at Botanical Beach, Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, B.. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in High Lunge (Ashwa Sanchalanasana) on cross-country skis at Sovereign Lakes Provincial Park, near Vernon, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in High Lunge (Ashwa Sanchalanasana) in her yard at home in Esquimalt (Victoria), B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in High Lunge (Ashwa Sanchalanasana) atop the Barranco Wall (13,600 feet above sea level) on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in High Lunge (Ashwa Sanchalanasana) amid the Giant Sencios (Dendrosenecio kilimanjari) in the Barranco Valley on Mount Kilimanjaro, elevation 13,231 feet above sea level (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in Half Revolved Prayer Twist (Ardha Parivritta Parsvokonasana) in her yard in Esquimalt (Victoria), Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Photo by Ian Hatter)
Jenny in Revolved Prayer Twist (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) on Whistler Mountain, Jasper National Park, Alberta (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in Revolved Prayer Twist (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) on ridge above Jade Pass in Mount Revelstoke National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)
Jenny in Revolved Prayer Twist (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) Sand Point Beach, Olympic National Park (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in Revolved Prayer Twist (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) at Botanical Beach, Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)
Jenny in Revolved Prayer Twist (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (photo by Ian Hatter)
Jenny in Revolved Prayer Twist (Parivritta Parsvokonasana) along Gorge Road in Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
