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Understanding Yoga through Knowledge and Practice




ASANA: STANDING POSES:

Standing poses are wonderful for building balance, leg strength and core stability. They are practice to build tapas, or perseverance in the body.


ARDHA CHANDRASANA (Half Moon Pose)

  • Begin in Uttanasana with a block in front of the pinkie toe of the left foot
  • Place left hand on block and right hand on hip
  • Inhale the left leg up and open hips, belly and chest to the right
  • Raise right arm towards ceiling
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release into Uttanasana, change sides
  • Therapeutics: Good for sciatica and strengthening the legs, hips and lower back, improves balance
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana I & II, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Trikonasana
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GARUDASANA (Eagle Pose)

  • Begin in Tadasana
  • Bend both knees and cross right leg over left (place right foot on block if needed, or bring right foot behind left ankle)
  • Open arms wide and cross left elbow over right, bend elbows and intertwine forrearms with either the backs of the hands or palms of the hands together
  • Lift elbows away from chest and release shoulders as you sit into the pose
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Stretches shoulders, lower back and hips, strengthens legs
  • Preparation: Utkatasana
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PARIGHASANA (Gate Pose)

  • Begin kneeling        
  • Straighten left leg and press toes towards floor to prevent hyperextension of knee
  • Exhale and side bend over left leg bringing left hand to block behind knee or to floor
  • Reach right arm overhead and keep tail bone long
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sided
  • Therapeutics: Stretches side body, armpits and lower waist
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana I & II
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PARSVA KONASANA (Side Angle Pose)

  • Stand with feet wide apart
  • Turn right foot in 30 degrees and left foot out 90 degrees
  • Inhale arms out from shoulders
  • Exhale and bend left knee
  • Bring left elbow to left knee or left hand to a block behind the left foot
  • Raise right arm overhead and stretch entire right side of body
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Opens side body, strengthens legs
  • Preparation: Virabhadrasana II
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TADASANA (Mountain Pose)

  • Stand with feet hips width apart (or toes together, heels slightly separated)
  • Engage the muscles of the legs towards the bones
  • Draw the belly in and release the tail bone
  • Lift the chest and draw the shoulder blades down
  • Press the crown of the head towards the ceiling
  • Hold 10-20 breaths
  • Therapeutics: Grounds the body and prepares for all standing poses, improves balance
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TRIKONASANA (Triangle Pose)

  • Stand with feet wide apart
  • Turn right foot in 30 degrees and left foot out 90 degrees
  • Inhale arms out from shoulders
  • Exhale and cock hips to the right
  • Reach left arm parallel to floor to lengthen the left waist and bring left hand on block
  • Rotate the chest towards the right and reach right arm towards ceiling
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Opens side body, strengthens legs, eases pain in the lower back
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana I & II, Adho Mukha Svanasana
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UTKATASANA (Chair Pose)

  • Begin in Tadasana
  • Bend both knees and lower pelvis, grounding thighs
  • Inhale arms either parallel to floor or overhead and lean torso forward from hips
  • Hold 5-10 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Strengthens legs, core and lower back
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana, Thread the Needle, Tadasana
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UTTHITA PADANGUSTHASANA (Extended Big Toe Pose)

  • Begin in Tadasana
  • Lift right foot and either hold foot with right hand or use strap
  • Keep right hip level with left hip and ground left standing leg
  • Extend left arm out to side or over head
  • Engage belly and lengthen tail
  • For a fully supported version, prop foot on a chair at the wall as shown here
  • Therapeutics: Strengthens legs and core, opens hips
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana I & II, Trikonasana
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VIRABHADRASANA I (Warrior I)

  • Turn right foot in 60 degrees and left foot out 90 degrees
  • Turn hips towards front foot and balance weight on both feet
  • Inhale arms overhead
  • Exhale and bend left knee
  • Draw belly up and release tail bone towards floor
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Opens front body and psoas,strengthens legs, improves balance
  • Preparation: Virabhadrasana II, Bhujangasana
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VIRABHADRASANA II (Warrior II)

  • Stand with feet wide apart
  • Turn right foot in 30 degrees and left foot out 90 degrees
  • Inhale arms out from shoulders
  • Exhale and bend left knee
  • Keep torso upright and do not lean over bent leg
  • Gaze towards left hand
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Strengthens legs and increases balance
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana I & II
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VRKSASANA (Tree Pose)

  • Stand with feet hips-width apart
  • Engage legs and bear weight on right leg only
  • Draw left foot onto calf or inner thigh (do not press on side of knee)
  • Press foot against leg and leg against foot
  • Draw belly in and release tail bone towards floor
  • Inhale and draw arms overhead without gripping shoulders
  • Hold as long as you can balance with comfort, release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Mental focus and balance, leg strength, stretches inner thighs
  • Preparation: Supta Padangusthasana I & II,   Virabhadrasana II
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Asana Index:  Warm-Ups - Seated Poses - Standing Poses
Forward Bends
- Back Bends - Twists - Inversions - Restoratives