Utthita Trikonasana, or Extended Triangle Pose

Ah, this pose. ! Look twice and see how there’s more than one triangle defining it #micromacro. I remember the first time I did this pose, in #newyorkcity at my second #integralyoga class, and it was so out of body. I was like, what the heck am I doing/are we doing? I couldn’t be more glad I kept doing it. It’s my very favorite standing pose.

I often call Utthita Trikonasana, or #trianglepose, an optimistic, sunny shape, because it feels so good once you get your head, shoulders, and hips in line with the legs strong underneath you. It’s also just so practical: it stretches everything out, and, because of its geometric principles, it makes you feel dynamically balanced and sharp at the same time.

In terms of #smooththeslump, Triangle Pose tones the body everywhere. Most important for us, 21st century, it pulls us into our whole spine and helps lift and open the chest in a way correlated to how tomorrow’s pose, Utthita Parsvakonasana, @sideanglepose, strengthens and opens the low back (and legs).