Fundamentals: six standing foundation postures of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga

Pādāṅguṣṭhāsana: big toe pose

Big toe pose is a standing forward bend. The feet are about one foot-width apart, and, as the name suggests, the hands take hold of the big toes.

Pāda Hastāsana: hand-to-foot pose

Hand-to-foot pose is the second posture and the second standing forward bend in the Fundamentals. Here the palms slide underneath the soles of the feet.

Utthita Trikoṇāsana: triangle pose

In triangle pose, the legs and the floor form a triangle. More triangular shapes appear between the horizontal torso and the vertical arms.

Parivṛtta Trikoṇāsana: revolved triangle pose

In revolved triangle pose, the legs and the arms with the torso each form a triangle. The upper body rotates so the hand reaches beside the opposite foot.

Utthita Pārśva Koṇāsana: extended side angle

In extended side angle, the legs take a wide stance, the front thigh is nearly horizontal, and the side body lengthens into one long line.

Parivṛtta Pārśva Koṇāsana: revolved side angle

Revolved side angle is a standing posture with a turned pelvis, a bent front leg, and an intense rotation through the torso over the front leg.

Prasārita Pādottānāsana A: wide-legged forward bend

In the first version of the wide-legged forward bend, the feet stand about one body-length apart, the hands rest on the floor, and the torso folds forward.

Prasārita Pādottānāsana B: wide-legged forward bend

In the second version of the wide-legged forward bend, the feet stand about one body-length apart, the hands stay at the pelvis, and the torso folds forward.

Prasārita Pādottānāsana C: wide-legged forward bend

In the third version of the wide-legged forward bend, the torso folds forward while the hands clasp behind the back and reach toward the floor.

Prasārita Pādottānāsana D: wide-legged forward bend

In the fourth version of the wide-legged forward bend, the feet stand about one body-length apart, the torso folds forward, and two fingers hold the big toes.

Pārśvottānāsana: intense side stretch

The intense side stretch is a forward bend over the front leg in a relatively narrow stance. The palms press together behind the back in Pārśvottānāsana.