How to do Standing One Leg Balance Poses with a Yoga Strap

Below are some standing balance poses you can do using a yoga strap. Often, these postures are often taught by instructing you to hold onto your foot or toe. However, this requires a lot of flexibility in the hamstring muscles and low back. It also requires strength in the abdominal muscles in order to hold your back straight. Trying to hold these poses without having the strength and flexibility will cause you to round your back and possibly injure your knee joint. Doing these balance poses while holding a yoga strap will help you to both improve your balance and maintain good alignment. Read on to learn how to do standing one leg balance poses with a yoga strap.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A yoga strap, long sheet or towel

Forward Leg Balance

1. Stand up straight. Place the strap around the bottom of the right foot and hold the ends with your hands.

2. Keeping your back straight slowly flex the right foot and lift it off the floor.

3. The higher you lift your foot, the more challenging your balance. It is better to find a position you can hold instead of trying to lift the foot too high and constantly falling out of the posture. With regular practice, your balance will improve and you will be able to lift the leg higher.

4. Hold for five to 10 deep breaths. Be careful to not pull hard on the yoga strap, just use it to help support the posture. Stay up straight and do not lean back to lift the leg higher.

5. Repeat with the left foot.

Sideways Leg Balance

6. Stand up straight. Place the strap around the bottom of the right foot and hold both ends with your right hand.

7. Keeping your back straight slowly flex the right foot and lift it off the floor. The higher you lift your foot, the more challenging your balance.

8. Then turn the leg out and carry it out to the right side. Extend your left hand out to the side, shoulder height with the palm facing the floor.

9. Do not lift too high. It is better to find a position you can hold instead of trying to lift the foot too high and constantly falling out of the posture. With regular practice, your balance will improve and you will be able to lift the leg higher.

10. Hold for five to 10 deep breaths. Be careful to not pull hard on the yoga strap, just use it to help support the posture. Do not tip sideways to lift the leg higher. Keep your body straight.

11. You can challenge your balance further by turning to look out over your left hand.

12. Repeat with the left foot.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful to not lock your knees.

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Resources

• Forward leg balance without strap information
• Sideways leg balance without strap details