If you are a yoga practitioner, you are most likely familiar the poses: down dog, half moon, cobra, and a dozen others. An exercise practiced for more than 5,000 years, the essence of yoga lies in the unification of mind and spirit to create a more harmonious existence. Over a hundred different schools of Yoga exist, providing freedom from self-ignorance, health, and self-understanding as we go forth in the chaos that makes up our daily lives.

I am a big fan of Yoga, as I’ve mentioned before in my post on Hot Yoga. The poses that I am most partial to are the Warrior poses, I and II. There are actually three Warrior poses, but Warrior I and II I feel, are both comfortable and easy for beginners.

The Warrior pose is actually fashioned after a warrior in Hindu religion called Virabhadra with a thousand eyes, heads, and feet, with a thousand clubs. He symbolizes a spiritual warrior in the fight against self-ignorance. To do the Warrior I pose, start with your feet 3 ½ to 4 feet apart and raise your arms up so they are parallel to one another. Place your right foot forward and lower yourself as if you were about to do a lunge, bending your right knee. Pull your left foot straight back, and turn your toes out 45 degrees, letting your heel rest on the ground. Make sure to bend the right knee only so that it is parallel with your right ankle, as you can see in the above picture.

Warrior II is similar, and my favorite of the two. This pose really opens up your chest and entire body, and is only slightly different in the way the feet and hands are positioned. It is basically an offshoot of Warrior I, and is easy for most people to hold.

Of the many yoga poses out there, all of us yogis have our favorite poses for different reasons. Some make us feel empowered, others help us become more in tune with our spirit. What are some of yours?

References:

www.yogajournal.com