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Step 1
Sit in the yoga staff pose with your spine held tall and straight and your legs extended in front of you. Flex your feet, drawing your toes up and place a yoga strap over your left thigh. Tuck on end of the strap into your waist band at the center of your back and allow the other end to fall over your left thigh and between your legs.
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Step 2
Inhale deeply, lengthening through the spine and then exhale as you bend your right knee to your chest, placing the foot flat on the ground. Grip your ankle with both hands and lift the leg up and over your left leg, setting the foot firmly on the outside of your left thigh, the foot even with your knee.
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Step 3
Breathe deeply, relaxing your abdominal muscles and then exhale and rotate your torso to the right. Place the back of your left arm against the outside of your right leg, bring the knee as near to the armpit as possible. Turn your gaze to the right as well.
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Step 4
Keep your spine tall and reach behind you with your right hand to grip the end of the yoga strap. Bend your left elbow and reach under your right knee to grip the opposite end of the strap. Breathe into the pose and with each exhale, try to fall a bit further into the twist as you inch your hands up the strap, closer together.
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Step 5
Hold the marichi's pose for 30 to 60 seconds and then release the strap and exhale as you twist to center. Extend the right leg and repeat the pose on the opposite side. With practice, you will eventually be able to clasp your fingers together without the help of the strap.
