Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch/Pyramid)

Featuring Payton in Pyramid Pose

Graduating from YTT Spring 2023

(PARZH-voh-tahn-AHS-uh-nuh)

Intense Side Stretch or Pyramid Pose is a standing yoga posture that combines the benefits of three major movements: forward bending, backward bending and balancing. It requires intense focus and a very calm mind to balance and stay in correct alignment. Parsvottanasana helps to prepare the body for seated forward folds, backbends, inversions, and twists.

Benefits

• Calms the brain

• Stretches the spine, shoulders and wrists (in the full pose), hips, and hamstrings

• Strengthens the legs

• Stimulates the abdominal organs

• Improves posture and sense of balance

• Improves digestion

Directions

1. Stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) with feet together.

2. Inhale step left foot back until feet are one leg’s length apart.

3. Exhale turn left foot to a 45 degree angle, hips and chest face forward like in Warrior I.

4. Straighten both legs and pull kneecaps up by tightening the quadriceps.

5. Draw right hip back and left hip forward.

6. Inhale lift and lengthen up.

7. Exhale fold forward bringing whole torso over the right leg. Stay 3-5 breaths.

8. Step back up to Tadasana and repeat on opposite side.

Modifications

• Use blocks on either side of front foot

• Slight bend of the knee if hamstrings are tight

Practice our pose of the month with us in your next Studio or Virtual class.