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Today's Daily Tip

My Hero

At first glance, Virasana (Hero Pose) looks simple. You don't have to balance on your head or bend your spine backward ... (continued)

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Chair Pose

Utkatasana

hp_219_Utkatasana_248.jpg

(OOT-kah-TAHS-anna)
utkata = powerful, fierce

Step by Step

Stand in Tadasana. Inhale and raise your arms perpendicular to the floor. Either keep the arms parallel, palms facing inward, or join the palms.

Exhale and bend your knees, trying to take the thighs as nearly parallel to the floor as possible. The knees will project out over the feet, and the torso will lean slightly forward over the thighs until the front torso forms approximately a right angle with the tops of the thighs. Keep the inner thighs parallel to each other and press the heads of the thigh bones down toward the heels.

Firm your shoulder blades against the back. Take your tailbone down toward the floor and in toward your pubis to keep the lower back long.

Stay for 30 seconds to a minute. To come out of this pose straighten your knees with an inhalation, lifting strongly through the arms. Exhale and release your arms to your sides into Tadasana.


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Reader Comments

June

Is this one of the pose that is an exception to the rule "knee under ankle"?

nitties

wow I done my yoga poses then tried this out and it really done MY hips wonders! Lower back stretched too and I feel great!

Lynne

This is the one pose that I cannot make peace with. I find it difficult and every time my instructor cues it, I groan! Any suggestions as to how I can welcome this pose rather than feel annoyed by it?

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