Tittibhasana

The name Tittibhasana comes from Sanskrit: Ṭiṭṭibha, "small insect, firefly", and āsana, "posture" or "seat".

[2] Indian folklore tells the story of a pair of Tittibha birds that nested by the sea; the ocean swept away their eggs, and the birds complained to Vishnu, asking for the eggs to be returned.

The effectiveness of the small weak birds is said to be used as a symbol of yoga, able to overcome the power of illusion in the world.

[4][6] Tittibhasana is described in Light on Yoga as being entered from Dvi Pada Sirsasana, a difficult sitting pose with the legs crossed behind the head, that in Iyengar's words "requires practice", by uncrossing the ankles, stretching the legs straight up, and pushing down on the hands to balance.

[6] Bhujapidasana, Shoulder Pressing Pose, is similar, with the thighs resting on the upper arms, but the legs are crossed at the ankle in front of the body.