Reiko's Yoga Blog

Go back to the basic and Explore your body!

We often focus a lot on arm balances or challenging poses that make us feel like we hit a wall.  At these moments, let’s pause,  go back to the basics and explore our body.  

Most of asanas have some type of linkage.  For example, having the strong awareness of internal hip rotation in Warrior One helps us to understand the importance of the hip rotation in Warrior Three, Revolved Triangle Pose,  Pyramid Pose, Eagle Pose, and the list goes on.  If you feel like you are challenged to balance in these poses listed above, go back to the fundamental pose , Warrior one. 

 This pose is more stable than some other balancing poses that require internal rotation of our hips, so it is a perfect pose to stay for a long time to understand the muscle engagement.

Watch my free video here to learn the alignment and how to engage muscles to gain the stability.

Now, if you prefer reading technical words and geek out with me :p, here is a part of what I will be covering in the video.

…In this pose, your pelvic girdle is facing forward to allow the internal rotation of your hips. In this movement , you engage your both quadriceps on front and back legs, gluteus maximus, tensor fascia lata (muscles that run with IT band), hamstrings, gastrocnemius,and ilopsoas muscles.  Put equal weight on both right and left legs. There is a tendency that your front leg has more weight than your back leg, so ensure to keep your back leg active and strong.  Your upper body is also active. Your latissimus dorsi and also your muscles around your ribs called serratus anterior are engaged to keep your back long. These muscles will help you to keep your ribs from pushing out to the front.  Let your triceps to face forward and draw your shoulders down.

Ha! That was a lot of stuff!  Thanks for reading ! Don’t forget to check my channel, and give me some feedback <3

2.BlackswanYoga.TV

Reiko