Saturday, May 12, 2012

Yoga Pose of the Week

Triangle pose- Trikonasana

In Sanskrit, "tri" means three and "kona" means corner.



How-to:
  1. Step into a wide stance, about 3-4 feet wide. 
  2. Turn your back foot out to the side- if your right foot is the back foot, point your toes to the right.
  3. Stretch forward through your front hand, lengthening both sides of your waist; then let your hand drop down to rest on your leg/foot/mat- wherever it can comfortably reach without compromising the long extension of the torso. Raise the other arm overhead.
  4. Peel your hips and chest open, stacking your shoulder blades with your arms in a straight line.
  5. Keep your neck strong; don't let the head hang heavily. You can turn your head to look up at the top hand; or look straight in front of you; or gaze down at your foot- whatever feels best for your neck and shoulders.
  6. Keep your breath smooth and steady; stay in your pose for 5 or 6 deep breaths and then lift yourself up, rooting your back heel down in the mat.  

Beginner Tips:
  • Try practicing your Trikonasana with your back against a wall to get a feel for the openness of the pelvis and chest. 
  • If you feel unstable, practice with your back heel braced against a wall. 
  • If you are straining to reach farther down your leg, bring a block under your hand to lift yourself up enough to keep lengthening both sides of the waist equally.
Benefits:
  • Used therapeutically for anxiety and infertility
  • Helps relieve stress
  • Improves digestion, and can help relieve constipation.
  • Stimulates function of the abdominal organs
  • Stretches the legs, knees, groin, chest, neck and spine.
  • Strengthens the knees, abdominals & obliques, and back
Enjoy the sunshine today, yogis!
Rebecca

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