Happy Wednesday! :)
Today’s post is all about WARRIOR II, or in sanskrit, Virabhadrasana II (two).
Warrior II is one of my favorite yoga poses. It’s pretty simple, yet there’s so much going on and so many benefits physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
It’s a great pose to introduce to beginners with little to no experience in yoga. It’s such a basic pose that builds the foundation for numerous other poses.
Practicing Virabhadrasana II brings about a sense of grounding, strength, power and confidence.
When I practice this pose, I feel strength and confidence in who I am, as I am. I feel empowered. I feel like nothing or no one can knock me down. My legs are my strong foundation rooted into the earth, and I am a warrior. I’m a fierce, yet peaceful and content warrior. My hips are open and my heart is wide open. My arms are strong extensions of my heart, spread open like wings.
BENEFITS
~stretches & strengthens the legs & buttocks
~opens the hips, groins & chest
~creates a sense of self-empowerment, strength & confidence
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TO GET INTO WARRIOR II:
1) Stand with your feet in a wide stance, about 3 – 4 feet apart, feet parallel, toes pointing forward.
2) Pivot your right foot so that the toes are pointing all the way to your right.
3) Line up the right heel of your foot with the arch of your left foot.
4) Angle the left foot so that it’s at a 45 – 90 degree angle. Feel what works best for you. (Instead of the toes pointing forward, they may turn in to your right a bit. This depends on ankle flexibility and where you feel the most grounding.)
5) Now bend your right knee, bringing it as close to a 90 degree angle as you can. The knee lines up directly over the ankle. (If you need to scoot the left foot back a bit to get the knee over the ankle, feel free.)
6) Extend your arms out, right arm aiming strong out in front of you & left arm aiming behind you, in one strong line. Relax your shoulders away from the ears.
7) The torso faces the same way it did when you started from the first wide stance position. Only the gaze comes out over the right hand in front of you.
8) Tuck the tailbone down toward the ground and lift and firm up through the lower belly. (Rather than sticking the butt way out and letting the belly flop. This is so important!)
9) Make sure the right knee is aiming toward the right pinky or ring-finger toe. Don’t let it point inward & to the left toward the big toe!
10) BREATHE & feel the pose from within. Rather than focusing on what it looks like on the outside, feel it from within. Try closing your eyes for a few breaths.
11) Feel your strength and power. Feel your sense of grounding, your center. Feel your open heart, open arms. Feel yourself as a warrior – strong, sturdy, powerful, unwavering, untouchable, unable to be knocked down.
12) Feel your strength and fierceness, but be able to be light, playful and not so serious with it. SMILE! ;)
13) Repeat on the opposite side!
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Look for Vibrance Yoga posts on Wednesdays!!
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