Revolved Chair Pose

Parivrtta Utkatasana

A deep double-leg squat with a closed twist. Loads the quads and glutes isometrically while the obliques rotate the ribcage over level knees.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Mat
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Quads · Obliques
ALSO WORKS
Glutes · Lower back · Multifidus · Calves
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand with feet together or hip-width, bend the knees and sit the hips back as if into a chair.
  2. 02Bring the palms together at the chest and lengthen the spine forward over the thighs.
  3. 03Hook one elbow outside the opposite thigh and press the hands firmly together.
  4. 04Rotate the chest open, keeping the knees level with each other.
  5. 05Hold three to five breaths, return to centre, and twist the other way.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Keep the knees level — check them, do not guess.
  2. 02Press hand into hand to power the rotation.
  3. 03Weight in the heels, chest lifting away from the thighs.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Letting one knee slide forward to gain twist, which rotates the pelvis instead of the spine.
  2. 02Rounding the upper back to hook the elbow, which loses the thoracic rotation entirely.
  3. 03Standing up out of the squat as the twist deepens, which removes the leg work the pose is built on.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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