Anantasana (Sanskrit: अनन्तासन; IAST: Anantāsana), Sleeping Vishnu Pose or Vishnu's Couch Pose,[1] Eternal One's Pose, or Side-Reclining Leg Lift[2] is an asana in modern yoga as exercise.
The name comes from the Sanskrit words anantā (अनन्त) meaning "without end" or "the infinite one", for the thousand-headed serpent Shesha upon which Vishnu rested at the bottom of the primordial ocean,[3] and āsana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat".[4]
A different reclining pose named Anantasana is described and illustrated in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi.[5] The modern pose is described in the 1966 Light on Yoga.[3]
Anantasana is entered from a lying position. The head is supported with one hand, the upper arm on the ground on that side; the other hand and leg are stretched straight up, the fingers grasping the big toe of the raised foot. The supporting arm, body, and lower leg are in a straight line.[2]