Standing Poses
Standing poses are incorporated into most general yoga sessions and often used in vinyasa or yoga flow sequences.
Let’s look at a few common standing poses.
Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Stand with your feet together, big toes touching, heels slightly apart. Your weight is even on both feet and your thigh muscles are engaged. Arms are by your sides, palms facing forward.
Warrior I Pose (Virabhadrasana I)
From Mountain Pose (Tadasana), bend your knees and step one foot back. Turn the back toes out 30-45 degrees and press down with firmly with both feet. Keep your hips facing forward. Reach your hands overhead, palms facing each other. Repeat on the other side.
Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)
From Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I), turn your torso to the side, shift the back foot to be perpendicular to the front foot. Open your arms and bring them down parallel to the floor, turn your head to look over your front hand. Repeat on the other side.
Side Angle Pose (Utthia Parsvakonasana)
From Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II), bend your front elbow and rest it on the front knee. Extend your other arm over head creating a line from that hand to the back foot. Repeat on the other side.
Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
From Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II), straighten both legs. Hinge at the front hip to bring the front hand towards the ankle. Extend your other arm towards the ceiling. Repeat on the other side.
Chair Pose (Utkatasana)
From Mountain Pose (Tadasana) with your hands overhead, exhale and bend your knees like you’re going to sit down. Keep your weight in your heels and your chest lifted.
