Ardha Uttanasana is known in English as which pose?

• A. Forward Fold
• B. Chair Pose
• C. Halfway Lift
• D. Dancer's Pose

Answer: (C)

This question tests your ability to match a Sanskrit pose name to its English equivalent and to recognize what the pose looks like. Ardha Uttanasana breaks down as Ardha = half and Uttanasana = standing forward bend, so it describes the halfway position between standing and a full forward fold. In this pose you lift the chest and extend the spine while keeping a slight bend in the knees and the hips hinged forward, with hands resting on the shins, thighs, or the floor. It’s a transitional, lengthening pose rather than a full fold, which is why the English name is Halfway Lift. This differs from a full Forward Fold, which folds the torso down completely, and from other poses like Chair Pose or Dancer’s Pose, which involve different shapes and actions.