Download Week 4 Handout: Anatomy of Dristi

Week 4 Handout: Anatomy of Dristi
The 9 Dristis
1) Nasagra- tip of the nose* this is the main dristi and is used in most poses. downdog
2) Ajna chakra or bramadya dristhi- between the eyebrows- kurmasana, upavishta konasana
3) Nabi chakra- navel- when jalandara bandha is engaged- baddha konasana
4) Hastagra- hand/tip of middle finger- warrior II
5) Padhayaoragra/padagra- toes- some parts of utthita hasta padangusthasana, paschimottanasana
6) Parshva dristi- far to the right- twists
7) Parshva dristi- far to the left-twists
Fun Fact
8) Angustha ma dyai- thumbs- warrior I,
utkatasana
9) Urdhva or antara dristhi- up to the sky- updog
Poses
THE TERM RETINA COMES FROM THE LATIN
WORK RETE MEANING ‘NET’, ALLUDING TO
THE LIGHT-CATCHING NATURE OF THIS
PART OF THE EYE.
Every single pose has a dristi, it may be different based on
the modification used.
Muscles
Face:

occipitofrontalis- flat sheet of muscle rising from the occipital and frontal bones; furrows the brow
and moves the scalp

Frontalis- wrinikles the forehead and raises the eyebrows

Corrugator supercilii- pulls down inner brow and vertically wrinkles the skin both between and above
the eyebrows.

orbicularis oculi- circular muscle around the eye socket that closes the eye tightly; the palpebral part
lies in the eyelids and closes the eye lightly as in sleeping or blinking.
Eyes: Each eye is held in place by 3 pairs of taut, elastic muscles called the “extrinsic” muscles.
Neck/Back:


Sternocleidomastoids- contractions of this pair of muscles help to bend the head forward or turn it
from side to side.
Fun Fact
Trapezius- very large muscle on your neck
and back. It draws back your head, lifts your
THE FIRST VERTEBRA, THE ATLAS, IS NAMED
shoulders, helps support your shoulder joint.
Bones


Skull- 22 cranial and facial bones in the skull!
Atlas & Axis vertebrae
AFTER THE GREEK MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE,
ATLAS, WHO HELD UP THE HEAVENS IN THE
SAME WAY THIS VERTEBRA HOLDS UP AND
ARTICULATES WITH THE SKULL.
Movement/Alignment:

The weight of your head provides resistance, the neck muscles on the back of the neck lift the skull.
The fulcrum is the joint where your skull and spinal column meet (at the Atlas).