POW! Pose of the Week

Pose of the Week - This week's pose: Virabhadrasana III - because you knew it was coming! Warrior 3 is the final pose of the Warrior series (thank goodness, because after this, you can only imagine what could be next!). Of course, it improves your balance - how else could you form a Capital letter T with your body? - and improves your posture, but it also strengthens your ankles and shoulders while toning your abdominals. Believe me, you are not going to be able to support this posture without using your abs!

You can find yourself tipping into Warrior 3 from standing (mountain pose), leveling out from Ardha Chandrasana (half-moon pose), or swooping out from Trikonasana (triangle pose). In this way, Warrior 3, though extremely challenging, is versatile! It turns out, that this month's issue of Yoga Journal has an article that discusses the "stories" behind some of our favorite yoga postures. Much like the Greek and Roman legends describe the formation of the Constellations, there are stories and legends to explain the origins of the Sanskrit names for yoga postures. The author of the article didn't go into the legend of the Warrior series, but a simple online search revealed the story behind Virabhadrasana (a powerful hero born from the hair of the god Shiva), and the story almost compels you to follow the asanas in order (Vira. I, Vira. II, and finally Vira. III), so that's how I'll take you there!

Starting from where we were last week, Virabhadrasana II, your front knee is bent, toes pointing straight ahead, looking to the future. Your back leg is straight with the foot at a 45 degree angle, hips are open to the side. Arms stretch forward and back, palms facing down. Sweep your back arm overhead and bring it in line with your forward arm while rotating the hips and back foot forward. Place your weight on your forward foot, and lean into it. Balance on the front leg while you allow the back leg to lift off, coming parallel to the floor. Your torso also will tilt forward in line with the back leg, parallel to the floor. Wrists, shoulders, hips, and ankles should all be level. From the side, you will look like a giant, capital T. Now you're flying!

Allow the balance of this series to help you seek balance and happiness in your life!