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This is a forum to share tips, advice and ideas about nutrition, fitness and well-being. I also invite you to join me in my yoga practice at 24 Hour Fitness. It is an 1 hour vinyasa yoga class, also called "flow" yoga. The poses move fluidly, the breath linking each pose to the next. This practice will create strength, flexibilty, endurance and balance leading to a sense of wellness and mental awareness. I hope to see you there! The class schedule will be updated on the blog as it changes.

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Pose of the week: Stork

We did this balance pose in class tonight! It is one I recently learned at my Level 4 YogaFit training.
Name: Stork OR Half Bound Lotus Standing Forward Bend

Sanskrit name:  Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana

Getting into the pose: From standing balance pigeon, with the left ankle on the thigh, begin drawling the foot further up the thigh. Important: keep the foot in in contact with the thigh the whole time, if it lifts off you will be twisting the knee. If it is comfortable, draw the edge of the foot into the crease of the leg/hip for half lotus (this half lotus is optional). If possible, take a bind by reaching the left arm around the back and grabbing onto the left toes, then extend the right arm into the air.

Holding the pose: Hinge from the hips, bend the right knee and push the sitting bones down while keeping the right arm extended. Allow the right finger tips to make contact with the floor before slowly ascending back to standing.

Repeat on the other side

Modifications: Stop and balance at any point along the way or just hinge and lower as much as possible without touching the floor. Or to deepen the pose, place the palm on the floor and lower the face toward the knee.

Benefits: Balance, stability, hip opening




If your foot makes it all the way to the crease between your leg and torso, then there are 3 options as demonstrated by these pictures.

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