Let’s breakdown a pose that is fairly standard in most yoga practices: Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
First and foremost, there are many ways to do this pose and for each person it is going to look and feel different. That’s OKAY!
Here are two basic versions of Tadasana:
The basic aspects of Tadasana are:
- keep full contact of both feet on the ground
- straighten legs
- firm thigh muscles (squeeze them together)
- bring belly in and up (engage core)
- straighten back
- relax shoulders (keep them down/away from neck)
- keep gaze straight ahead (keep your focus, drishti, on something immobile)
- keep breathing deeply, slowly
- hands can be open, at sides or in prayer at the heart
- feet can be together, touching or about hips width distance
Tadasana is a great pose for standing meditations or beginning a yoga practice. It can help bring focus to the mind, allowing you to feel grounded and present. These are important aspects to begin a yoga practice.
Tadasana also can encourage feelings of strength. Here’s a fun experiment to do with a friend. Stand completely relaxed, muscles and feet loose. Allow your friend to gently push you. Did you move or shift position? Now, come to Tadasana. Stand firm, grounded with muscles engaged. Now, again, allow your friend to gently push you. Did you move or shift position? In most cases, the invocation of Tadasana provides stability and strength, which leads to minimal movement when touched. Translated off the mat, being grounded and feeling strong can allow us to remain steadfast when presented with adversity!
Some other benefits of Tadasana:
- improves posture
- unifies body and mind
- promotes better blood circulation
- promotes lengthening of the spine
Enjoy practicing Tadasana and see how it changes when you’re more aware of your body!
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