POW! - Pose of the Week

This week's Pose: Tiptoe pose - because I mentioned it last week, and didn't want to leave you hanging!

As you can see, a Sanskrit name has been devised for Tiptoe pose. Samatvam means balance, so this translates as "balance pose". Aren't ALL asanas balance poses, though? Like I said, this is a pose the appearance of which suggests many hours of practice, yet the Sanskrit name doesn't suggest that at all. I could argue that Tree pose is "balance pose", or Half-Moon pose is "balance pose". Anyway, this is a challenging pose with many benefits - including great satisfaction once it's mastered!

Tiptoe pose is a deep hip opener that requires balance (duh!) and focus. You will strengthen the spine, ankle and legs, while also opening the shoulders. This is one of those poses my friend Lauren says is "Pretzel Yoga"...and I can sort of see it with this posture. It certainly is an advanced pose.

Start in Mountain pose, and focus on an unmoving point in front of you. Bend your left leg and bring your left ankle (holding on to it, if necessary) to your right hip crease. Breathe deeply to help achieve this hip opening stance - it's only the first challenge, dear Readers! Keeping that ankle in your hip crease, fold forward into Standing Forward Bend. Frame your right foot with your hands (2nd challenge!). Once you're ready, bend your right leg and sit on your right heel. Remember your left foot is still in your right hip crease. Slowly, as you have your balance, bring your hands into prayer position.

So there we have it...3 poses in one: Mountain, Standing Forward Bend, and Tiptoe! Oh, and by the way, don't forget to hit this on the other side so you're really "balanced"...we wouldn't want one side to be looser than the other!

"Yoga is the study of balance, and balance is the aim of all living creatures." - Rolf Gates