Chaturanga Dandasana Breakdown

In this chaturanga dandasana breakdown, we will explore the benefits of the posture, how to come into traditional chaturanga dandasana, contraindications for chataranga and accessibility options for chataranga dandasana.

Safety considerations in Chaturanga Dandasana:

Chaturanga is a posture that is offered to us repeatedly in a typical Vinyasa class.  Most people have been doing Chaturanga Dandasana, four-limbed staff pose, incorrectly for years.  This is because it's a very challenging pose.  Many of us don't have the strength to maintain proper alignment.  Repeatedly practicing this posture (or any posture) incorrectly can lead to serious injury.  Many yoga practitioners have suffered rotator cuff injuries, shoulder strain, neck pain or low back pain from misaligned Chaturanga practice. 

Common alignment problems in Chaturanga Dandasana

Probably the biggest issue we see with Chaturanga Dandasana is that most practitioners rush through it.  This is especially true in the one-breath-per-movement Vinyasa classes with multiple sun salutations.  It isn't the type of pose that you can breeze through quickly.  It requires a sense of mindfulness because there are so many muscle groups involved in making this posture happen correctly.  The pecs, the front of the shoulders and even the rectus abdominis are among the main muscles we call on for Chaturanga. 

Aside from rushing the posture, we also see many practitioners collapsing towards the ground rather than lowering down with control.  The hands are often placed too close to the shoulders which means the elbows won't hit the ninety degree angle when they bend, they will pass it.  A lot of people don't fully bend at the elbow, often because they lack the upper body strength, and instead rush into upward facing dog.   Splaying the elbows is another common alignment issue in Chaturanga Dandasana. 

This is why it's important to take a look at the Chaturanga Dandasana breakdown.  We want to know how to properly practice this posture and we want to look at accessibility options for this posture. 

Sanskrit Name: Chaturanga Dandasana
English: Four Limbed Staff Pose

How to do Chaturanga Dandasana:

Start in plank. Bring the shoulders slightly over the wrists. Come up high on the toes. Press back through the heels to turn on the legs. Keep the abdominals engaged, the back strong. Lift the body as you inhale. On an exhale, let the elbows bend, squeezing them in towards the body. The elbows come right over the wrists as the body lowers. Maintain alignment, the body lowers as a unit until the shoulders reach the height of the elbows. Only lower to your own degree. If you feel that you’re losing your form, stop

Chaturanga Dandasana is in the traditional Sun Salutation sequence.

Contraindications and Cautions of Chaturanga Dandasana

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Pregnancy

Benefits of Chaturanga Dandasana

• Strengthens the arms and wrists
• Tones the abdomen

Accessibility Options for Chaturanga Dandasana

• Drop on knees
• Use a wall for support (standing chaturanga)
• Use a chair for support
• Bring blocks under shoulders
• Bring block under chest 
• Place strap above elbows
• Alternative is knees chest chin

Chaturanga modifications