longest time in the scorpion pose split image

Yash Mansukhbhai Moradiya (India), a yoga instructor based in Dubai, has broken the record for the longest time to hold the scorpion position.

21-year-old Yash Moradiya held the scorpion pose (or vrschikasana) for an incredible 29 minutes and four seconds, shattering the previous record of four minutes and 47 seconds. The scorpion pose is an advanced yoga position, where you place your forearms on the ground and arch your legs over your head.  

"The scorpion position is all about stability. The longer you hold the pose, the better you learn to establish your mental resilience," said Yash.

Yash prepared for this attempt for almost two years, using the extra time spent at home during the pandemic to hone his skill.

Yash selected an iconic date to do his attempt, Tuesday 22nd of February 2022, which when written in a certain format (2/22/22) is a palindrome. 

Born in 2001, he started his yoga journey at the age of eight. 

In 2017, he completed his yoga teacher training course and chose yoga as his career, to help people cope with their health issues and to achieve their fitness goals.

scorpion pose front on

Yash started a regular yoga practice in 2010, paving his way into Power Yoga, which is a fast-paced cardiovascular workout focused on building strength and flexibility in the body through high-impact yoga postures.

It took Yash two years of consistent practice to achieve this record, which included forearm stand exercises and even walking on his hands on a treadmill to increase his arm, shoulder and back flexibility.

"My achievement is not only physical, it has a lot to do with self-confidence and mental strength."

Yash explained that actual physical challenge becomes really tough after ten minutes passes.

"I was not feeling my toes, and my hip and back numbed before feeling so much pain throughout."

scorpion pose side on

Several studies have found that yoga can help improve cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, balance, and overall quality of life - and it can even reduce stress, anxiety, and pain. 

The link between yoga and it's mental health benefits is recognized with this year’s International Day of Yoga theme "Yoga for Humanity".

Yash believes that people who do yoga are more likely to have a positive image of their own physical and mental health, including a stronger sense of mental clarity, physical fitness, flexibility, and strength.

"Breaking a Guinness World Records was a celebration for a long-waited moment in my life. I started thinking about it five years ago and committed myself to it for two whole years."

Yash studied the philosophy and ancient knowledge of yoga to understand the roots of yoga and started his meditation practices to explore his inner self.

According to Yash, the essence of yoga is balance - not just balance within the body or that between the mind and the body, but also balance in the human relationship with the world.

"Something I learn through my career is that everyone could use more yoga in their lives," he concluded.

Yash Moradiya posing with GWR certificate