Yoga in Sanskrit...Week 2...Standing Forward Bend

Last week, we learned about Tadasana, or standing mountain pose. This week, we'll move on to Uttanasana, or standing forward bend. Uttanasana (pronounced ew-tawn-ah-sah-nah) is often the pose we practice following Tadasana in our sun salutation sequence.

Physical cues:

Stand tall in Tadasana and bring hands to hips. On the inhale, lengthen upward through the spine, keeping the shoulders relaxed down. On the exhale, place the hands on the hips and start to fold forward over the thighs. Use the hands on the hips to gently coax them forward and imagine the pelvis is a bowl spilling forward. Keep the spine straight and back flat as you lengthen down. Release the arms down toward the floor.

Optional: Bend the knees deeply when the hamstrings feel tight. Let the upper body drape over the lower body, resting the chest on bent legs.

If your hamstrings allow straight legs while maintaining a flat back, let the upper body and arms hang down.

Release tension in the head and neck letting it dangle down toward the floor and gaze at the legs. Breathe deeply for a few breaths, imagining tension rolling off the body. Use an inhale to rise back up to standing.

Please don't think it's normal to get your head all the way to your legs as this drawing suggests. Most people's hamstrings are tight and that's ok.

Mental benefits:

Uttanasana and all forward folds tend to relieve tension and anxiety. The knees-bent version of this pose is especially helpful for relieving stress and calming anxiety because the upper body on the legs allows for greater awareness of the breath. As you inhale and exhale in this position, and feel the belly expanding and contracting on the legs, it becomes easier to notice how shallow or deep the breath is, and the concentration of breath moving into the chest versus into the lower abdomen. Move towards the breath expanding the lower abdominal area for maximum effect.

Stay tuned for next week's pose, Utkatasana, or chair pose. If you are interested in learning more about how we incorporate yoga into therapy, check out this page.