Dandasana (Staff Pose)
Staff Pose is a subtle, yet active yoga posture that is considered to be the foundation of all seated yoga postures. In the photo below we see a young boy in staff pose - yes, children can do yoga!
How to do Dandasana
1. Sit with legs extende, spine and back lengethened.
2. Relax shoulders, moving them back and down.
3. Arms are by your sides with hands resting gently on the floor.
4. Legs are parallel and together at a right angle to your body.
5. Flex your feet with toes pointing upward or back towards you.
This is an active pose, with muscles in your hips and legs engaged. Since it is a grounding pose you will want to press your thighs down toward the ground. Sit tall and imagine that a string is moving from the center of your head, pulling you upwards. For beginners, Dandasana can be a little easier if you place a folded blanket under your buttocks.