Now, Uttāna-kūrmakāsana: from Kukkuṭāsana, embrace the neck with the arms and lie face up like a tortoise. This is Uttāna-kūrmakāsana.

Uttāna-kūrmakāsana, the “upturned tortoise posture,” is one of the most advanced postures in the classical system. It starts from Kukkuṭāsana and adds a backward roll.

The sequence involves:

1. Assume Padmāsana
2. Pass the arms between the thighs as in Kukkuṭāsana
3. Bring the hands around the neck (kandharām sambhādhya)
4. Roll backward, ending face up (uttāna)

The result is a compact, rounded position, like a tortoise flipped onto its shell. This image may appear vulnerable, but the posture develops considerable abdominal strength and spinal flexibility.

Kūrmavat — “like a tortoise” — reinforces the analogy with the animal. The body becomes completely retracted, an excellent position for intense pratyāhāra.

This posture requires considerable preparation and should not be attempted without first mastering Padmāsana and Kukkuṭāsana.