Strengthen your legs, hips, and upper back while training your balance
When we work with balance, we need to train our bodies to recover balance no matter what direction the challenge comes from: the front, side, or back. This is why, in this full yoga practice, we work with three common balance postures: Standing Toe Hold to train our balance with one leg extended forward, Warrior 3 to train balance with one leg extended back, and Standing Side Toe Hold to train balance with one leg extended out to the side. It is not so important whether or not you can reach for your toes as you hold the pose. In this practice, we will be using a yoga strap or a necktie to control the positioning of the foot.
Balancing on one foot with another leg extended strengthens the entire lower body, while holding the strap strengthens your upper body. In addition to training your balance, you are also working on overall physical strength and structural integration.
In this practice, we will also be using a study chair. The chair is a fantastic tool for balance training because it allows us to prepare for more challenging balance postures more effectively, get into them more easily, and provide stability if necessary. At some point during the practice, we will need to position the chair against something stable, like a wall or a couch, to avoid tipping, so please make sure that you can arrange your practice space accordingly.
Give it a try and see how it feels!
