Hey Yogis!

Following my previous post, here’s a quick rundown on balancing poses – why do them? How to do them? How often should we do them? Here’s an intro list of a few balancing and standing poses.

Why should we do balance poses?

While they engage a variety of muscle groups in the legs and core to build strength and stability, they also require focus and concentration. So, we’re working on both physical and mental wellness in one activity. Yay us!

Tips for doing balance poses

Start in a stable pose, such as Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

Choose a fixed focus point in front of you to gaze at

Maintain steady, even breaths so that you remain calm and focused

Engage your core muscles to help with stability

Use props such as walls or chairs for support if you need to

Practice regularly, so that they get easier to do

How often should we incorporate balance poses in our practice?

Aim to include a few (1-3) balance poses into your yoga practice two to three (2-3) times per week. This will build strength and coordination without overdoing it and ending up frustrated.

Try to hold each pose three to five (3-5) breaths to start and gradually increase the duration as you gain confidence and strength.

Integrate the balance poses at different points in your practice (warm-ups, cool-downs, standing sequences), depending on your focus that day.

Listen to your body. Reduce the frequency, duration, or intensity of the poses if you’re feeling unsteady or fatigued. It may be sufficient to shift your weight to one foot and bring the other up to a toe.

Talk with your instructors if you have any questions about balance poses.


Posted in Yoga