Yoga Standing Poses: Wide-Leg Forward Bend

Video Transcript

"Next is a wide leg forward bend. Take a wide stance, four to five feet apart and then from that wide stance check out your second toes, make sure they are parallel to one another. From that push into your feet and draw energy up the leg so the leg muscles engage and you feel that energy pool in the core of your pelvis. As the core of your pelvis gets stronger then extend down through the legs so it is that same energy but now you are opening it up, you are grounding into the earth and you feel really stable. From that stability fold forward. As you fold forward you might take your fingertips to the floor but if that feels like too tight in the backs of your legs again just take the block and you want to try to keep your legs totally straight to get the best stretch versus bending your knees to try and touch the floor. So take a block if you need to, legs are straight and strong. Again you can lift and spread your toes out wide and as they do that you will feel more energy strong in the legs. Draw that energy up the legs into the pelvis and then from the pelvis open it up back down into the earth ground down and then if you want to go deeper you can start to fold forward. Keep rooting down through the legs even as you fold. Inhaling, take your hands to your hips, root into your feet and lift with your heart to rise up standing."