Scorpion Pose Evolution
VRISCHIKASANA
SCORPION POSE EVOLUTION
Scorpion Pose, whether practiced in Pincha Mayurasana or in a handstand, blends a backbend with inversion control. It calls for deep opening through the front body, from rib cage to hip flexors and quadriceps. It does this while requiring powerful strength from the back line, glutes, and hamstrings. In the full workshop, Matt talks about the “artificial goal” of touching the toes to the head; a feat influenced as much by body proportions as by flexibility or strength. Even with “ideal proportions,” it’s far from guaranteed, and with “less ideal” proportions, it’s still possible. The essence of Scorpion Pose Evolution isn’t in chasing that single moment; it’s in refining where we place our effort and where we allow surrender.
CHROMATIC LEVEL 1 TRAINING
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- 30 hours in person with Matt
- Short Online pre-training to maximize in person time together
- Become a Certified Chromatic Yoga Teacher
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- All Yoga Teachers get continued ed hours with Yoga Alliance
- Certified Chromatic Teacher’s attending this event will get continued Ed hours toward their next level within Chromatic Yoga
- Chromatic Yoga does not adhere to dogmatic alignment principals, instead you will learn to make deliberate alignment based on intention.
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- Location: Our Farm in Connecticut
SCORPION CHAIR DRILLS
The first steps in this evolution are about teaching the spine to bow without losing control. Matt describes it as “softening through the solar plexus,” lengthening the distance between the ribs and the pubic bone. This is a familiar demand in backbends, but in an inversion, the instinct is to contract the front body for protection. Here, the challenge is to do the opposite.
Working with a chair offers security while building this new pattern. Steps in this drill includes:
- Forearms on the ground, feet on a chair (or blocks).
- As the hips lift, there’s a tendency for the chest to shift back—Matt emphasizes bringing it forward instead.
- Bending the knees makes that chest-forward position easier to access.
- The final step is re-extending the legs while keeping the chest forward.
This stage is about coaxing openness where the body wants to close.
WATCH THE VIDEO
SCORPION POSE EVOLUTION: FROM PINCHA TO HANDSTAND VARIATION
CONSTRUCT THE SHAPE
In Chromatic Yoga, poses are constructed through layering, each stage revealing a new physical and mental “click” moment.
Matt moves into a handstand variation with both feet still on the chair, widening the hands slightly, more like Downward Dog than a traditional handstand. This extra width allows more space for the chest to press forward between the arms. Progressions here can include lifting one leg, then alternating sides, or holding a static position to build stamina in the shape.
The emphasis is on uniting the vertical strength of a balance with the heart-opening bow developed earlier, building the full Scorpion from familiar pieces rather than forcing it all at once.
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TAKE IT TO THE WALL
Once the chest-forward action becomes second nature, the wall becomes a partner in refinement and feedback. Matt guides the toes to touch the wall while the chest simultaneously moves toward it. He alternates feet, keeping one foot on the chair to maintain the bowing action.
He points out that in some ways, these drills are more difficult than the final pose, they magnify the challenge of opening the front body while balancing. Progressions include both feet on the wall, heel draws toward the glutes, “double stag” shapes, and half-Scorpion holds. Every step is layered with safety cues, including controlled exits.
The same methodology applies to the handstand version, proving that with the right sequence, the principles translate seamlessly between variations.
300 HOUR ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING
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- Learn anatomy, biomechanics, asana techniques
- Expand your teaching skills
- Masterful sequencing and verbal delivery
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- Transformative tools: theming, dharma talks, satsang
STRENGTH & SURRENDER
Scorpion Pose evolution is a practice in discernment, knowing when to engage powerfully and when to yield. The back body must fire, the front body must release, and the ego must stay in check. Are we straining for a picture-perfect shape, or are we pulling back entirely to avoid the work?
True progress lies in surrendering to the process. Each drill builds familiarity, confidence, and awareness, not just of shoulder and spine mechanics, but of our personal tendencies under challenge. The reward isn’t simply “getting” Scorpion Pose. It’s discovering who we become in the process of learning it.
Take your practice and teaching to a new level in Matt's upcoming in person Chromatic Global Level 1 30 Hour Training by registering today.
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Article by Trish Curling
Video Extracted From: Scorpion 2-Hour Online Workship
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