Extended Side Angle pose strengthens the knees, quads and hips, opens up the hips, stretches the sides and improves lung capacity.
EXTENDED SIDE ANGLE POSE BENEFITS
- Strengthens the feet, ankles, knees, quads, hips and glutes.
- Stretches the ankles, calves, hamstrings, groin, obliques, intercostals, shoulders and arms.
- Opens up the hips.
- Increases lung capacity.
CATEGORY
SKILL LEVEL
- Intermediate
INSTRUCTIONS
- Set-Up
From Downward Dog, step your right foot in between your hands in Runners Lunge.
- Action
Check that your right knee is directly above your right ankle and turn your left heel down to the mat. Your back foot should turn in roughly 30 degrees. Come up, resting your right forearm on your front knee. Straighten your back leg and press back through the outside edge of your back foot. Circle your left arm down and across your body and reach through your fingertips.
- Refinements
Check that your front knee doesn’t come forward over your ankle and that your right toes and knee point straight ahead. Draw your right ear away from your shoulder and look up—twisting from your abs.
- Duration
Hold the pose for 3-5 breaths.
- To Release
Circle your left hand down to the mat and step back to Downward Dog for the other side.
ADVANCED VARIATION: Bound Extended Side Angle Pose
- To bind the pose—bring your right arm behind you, lift your left hand up from the mat, reach it under your left thigh and take hold of your left wrist. Gently turn your head up to the sky.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Avoid Extended Side Angle if you have a foot, knee, hip or shoulder injury.
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