Kurmasana Tortoise Pose, or Turtle Pose is an asana

Asana

Asana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, originally identified as a mastery of sitting still, with the spine as a conduit of biodynamic union...

.

Etymology

The name comes from the Sanskrit words Kurma (कूर्म, Kūrma) meaning "turtle" or "tortoise", which the posture resembles, and Asana (आसन, Āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".

Description

Sit with the legs outstretched, feet as wide apart as possible. Bend the knees slightly, keeping the heels in contact with the floor. Lean forward from the hips and place the hands under the knees, then lean further and slide the arms sideways and backward under the legs until the elbows lie near the back of the knees. Push the heels forward and straighten the legs as much as possible, bending the body further forward until the forehead or chin touches the floor. Fold the arms around the back and interlock the fingers of both hands under the buttocks.

Variations

As is common with most yoga poses, there are many variations to the Kūrmāsana, depending on the school of yoga that is followed. Some of the more popular variations include:

Supta Kūrmāsana (Sleeping Tortoise Pose)

Ardha Kūrmāsana (Half Tortoise Pose)

Uttana Kūrmāsana (Upside-Down Tortoise Pose)

External links

• Basic
• Video