The base of seated Matsyendrāsana: one leg crossed over the other. This configuration prepares the hip for the twist that follows.

The complete posture includes rotating the torso toward the side of the crossed leg, embracing the knee with the opposite arm and looking over the shoulder. It is a complete twist of the spinal column.

This seated variation is more accessible than the standing version. For many modern practitioners, it is the deepest twist they can achieve safely. It massages the entire digestive system.