Balancing Yoga Poses
Balancing Yoga Poses
Build balance and concentration for your yoga practice with this series of Balancing Yoga Poses. Join Meddy Teddy as we go step-by-step through these yoga postures. A mindful journey awaits.
Build better balance
When you fall, whether it's falling out of a pose on your mat or in daily life, quick reaction time is your key to preventing injury. You want your body to have the capacity for speed, allowing you to respond rapidly enough to catch yourself mid-fall or grab a child out of harm’s way, for example. While falling can certainly have more severe consequences later in life, at any age and activity level, the motor fitness components of balance, agility, speed, coordination, and power are vital for functional daily living and optimal for athletic performance.
Eagle Pose
Eagle Pose is a standing pose that requires a lot of mindful focus and balance. Meddy Teddy loves to do this pose because it engages all the major joints in the body. It is almost like your squeezing every joint in your body in the full variation of this posture.
Extended Hand to Big Toe
When you and Meddy want a challenge, this pose fits the bill. Extended Hand To Big Toe Pose is an intermediate yoga pose that will test your balance and coordination. The Sanskrit name for this pose, "Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana" (oo-TEE-tah HAHS-tuh pahd-ahng-goosh-TAHS-uh-nuh)
Dancer's Pose
A challenging pose that requires balance and concentration. It stretches your legs, chest, shoulders, neck, and your abdomen. It has a backbend aspect to it as well. Let's learn the Sanskrit name for this pose, "Natarajasana" (NOT-ah-rahj-AHS-uh-nuh), got it? Good job.
Headstand Pose
The biggest fear yogis have in this pose is the fear of falling over, this is why it is good to practice against the wall. Headstand is an Inversion Pose that challenges your entire body and strengthens your wrist and hand muscles.
Single Leg Lift
Single Leg Lift Pose is a great way to build balance and stability before you move onto more difficult poses like Dancer's Pose and Extended Big Toe Grab Pose. Start off in Mountain Pose a take a nice mindful breathe. Meddy likes to focus on his breath so he can center himself to prepare for this Balance Pose.
Warrior Three
This pose, called "Virabhadrasana III" (veer-uh-buh-DRAHS-uh-nuh) in Sanskrit, is named after the mythological Hindu warrior, Virabhadra. A tall, dark, and powerful incarnation of the god Shiva, Virabhadra is depicted with a thousand heads, a thousand arms, and a thousand flaming eyes. He embodies the fierce power required of a warrior. Practicing Virabhadrasana III will enhance your own power by building inner and outer strength, stability, and concentration.
