Uttanasana: A More Engaged Uttanasana

Uttanasana: Better Align Your Uttanasana

April Study Points: Sukhasana

Are you really in Sukhasana? Shins need to be parallel with feet hidden under opposite knee.

Sit in the pose for a long time – 5-10 minutes. What comes up?

Compare being on a lift and not. What changes?

How is this pose different from Siddhasana? Compare the two. When would one be more appropriate than the other?

Study Points: Uttanasana

With about 10 days to go on this pose, here are some thoughts for you:

Put a block between your legs to engage your inner thighs. How does that feel?

Do the pose with your back to the wall. How close can you be to the wall and not touch it?

Do the pose standing on two blocks. What changes?

How does Uttanasana compare to Prasarita Padottanasana for you? Physically AND energetically?

Uttanasana: Finding Love

Uttanasana used to be a dreaded pose for me. I still have difficulty putting words around what it was precisely that challenged me most. I felt challenged in my hamstrings (used to be very tight and then, after a pull, 13 years of “extra tightness” and discomfort). But even more than the hamstrings, it was the forward fold. I felt uncomfortable in any forward fold and especially this one. One of my teachers once said as just as an aside to me while I was in Uttanasana, “You will be amazing when you finally use your legs.” That was at least 11 years ago and last year I got it. I have studied for a couple of years how to effectively use my feet and legs to engage them and feel the energy. Once I “got” how to use my legs better, this pose felt great!

If It's March - It's Uttanasana!

Happy March! With March comes a new pose here at Musasana - Uttanasana. Here is a study point to get you started:

How does the pose change when your legs are straight versus bent?

Have fun playing and let us know what you learn.