Upward Plank
Purvottanasana
Upward Plank (Purvottanasana) is treated in the Svayam library as a core, backbend practice. Sit with legs extended and hands behind the hips, fingers facing forward or outward; press through hands and feet to lift the pelvis and open the front body while keeping the shoulders supported. The emphasis is on a repeatable, breath-friendly shape rather than achieving a fixed visual depth.
Breath: Inhale to broaden the chest and lengthen the front body.
Illustration coming soon
Before you practise this
This library provides general educational guidance, not individual medical advice. Modify or omit a posture when a health condition, injury, pregnancy, surgery or clinician advice makes it inappropriate.
- Work within a pain-free range and come out of the pose if you feel sharp pain, numbness, dizziness or loss of control.
- Avoid forcing spinal extension; distribute the movement and use props or a smaller range if the low back or shoulders feel compressed.
How to do Upward Plank
- 1Set up the starting position and establish a stable, comfortable base.
- 2Sit with legs extended and hands behind the hips, fingers facing forward or outward; press through hands and feet to lift the pelvis and open the front body while keeping the shoulders supported.
- 3Refine the position only while the breath remains smooth and the joints feel supported.
- 4Stay for several comfortable breaths or for the duration appropriate to the practice goal.
- 5Exit slowly by reversing the entry and pause briefly in a neutral position before continuing.
What the pose is doing
Sit with legs extended and hands behind the hips, fingers facing forward or outward; press through hands and feet to lift the pelvis and open the front body while keeping the shoulders supported.
Alignment cues
- Prioritise a stable base before increasing range of motion.
- Keep the breath easy; if breathing becomes strained, reduce the intensity of the shape.
- Create length before extension and avoid concentrating all movement in the lumbar spine.
Breathing
- Inhale to broaden the chest and lengthen the front body.
- Keep exhalations steady so the backbend does not become a breath-holding effort.
Common mistakes
- Chasing depth or appearance at the expense of steady breathing and joint comfort.
- Compressing the low back while the chest and shoulders remain relatively closed.
Tips for beginners
- Use blocks, a strap, wall or chair whenever a prop helps you maintain a clearer and more comfortable shape.
- Start with a smaller lift and focus on chest length rather than maximum depth.
Benefits
- Promotes chest opening and controlled spinal extension.
- Develops trunk control and coordinated support around the pelvis and rib cage.
- Encourages body awareness and a repeatable relationship between movement and breath.
- Can be scaled with props or range changes to support gradual skill development.
Variations
Make it easier
- Reduce the lift or use a supported variation to keep the extension distributed.
Standard
- Practise the described classical or commonly taught version with steady breathing and controlled transitions.
Make it harder
- Explore a fuller expression only when shoulder, hip and spinal extension are evenly distributed.
Anatomy
Anatomy fields describe broad movement emphasis rather than claiming a single muscle activation pattern; actual loading varies with proportions, variation, props and technique.
Regions worked
Joint actions
Notes for teachers
- Cue the base and direction of effort before cueing a deeper range.
- Offer at least one prop-supported or lower-intensity option.
Sequencing
Prepare with
Follow with
Counter pose
Practise Upward Plank with feedback
Reading the cues is one thing; knowing whether your own alignment matches them is another. Svayam's posture analysis watches you through your camera and tells you what to change - and a teacher can review the same session afterwards.
Already practising? Open Upward Plank in your library
This page is general information about a yoga posture, not medical advice. If you have an injury, a medical condition, or are pregnant, check with a qualified health professional before practising.