Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose
Extended Hand To Big Toe Pose - Utthita Hasta Padangustasana
How to Do the Extended Hand to Big Toe Yoga posture
1. Begin in Tadasana, or Mountain pose. Feet planted, together, flat on the floor, arms at your sides.
2. Bring your left knee up towards your abdomen.
3. With your left arm, reach down, on the inside of the thigh, across the ankle, to grasp the outer edge of the foot. (If you’re just starting out, you can use a yoga strap around the sole of your foot instead.)
4. Tighten the muscles of the right thigh, bringing the outer thigh inwards.
5. Still holding the foot, extend your left leg forwards, straightening it as much as possible, while inhaling.
6. Ensuring that you have your balance, slowly and smoothly swing the left leg out to the side. Breathing while doing so may help you keep your balance!
7. Hold the pose for half a minute, then swing the leg back to the front, inhaling, and lower slowly to the floor.
8. Repeat using the right leg.
. Extended Hand to Big Toe Yoga Posture Modifications for Beginners
Using a yoga strap, as mentioned above, will help you achieve this yoga posture, and using the back of a padded chair, or a chair covered with a towel, to rest the raised leg, can make maintaining the pose easier for beginners.
Benefits of the Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose
The Extended Hand to Big Toe yoga posture benefits and focuses on the upper back. It is beneficial in the prevention and treatment, and offers these additional benefits:
• Stretching and strengthening of back and leg muscles.
• Strengthening the ankles.
• Improving balance and focus.
Cautions for Extended Hand to Big Toe Yoga Posture
If you suffer from ankle or lower back problems, or have had injuries in these areas, this pose should be attempted with caution, or not at all.