Transitions Article 2

Transitions Article 2

 

 

Last month I started to explain the importance of transitions in yoga, ie. the movement from one pose to the next. I explained how the movement between the poses was as important as the poses themselves.

 

Today I am going to focus on the complex transition between the famous poses Warrior 1 to Warrior 2. I am going to break them down so that you can finesse them within your own practice and feel the benefits for yourselves.

 

The transition from Warrior 1 into Warrior 2

Where to start

•         Start by stepping the right leg back into Warrior 1.
•         Keep the feet hip width apart and angle the right foot forwards to 45-degrees.
•         Bend into the front knee to keep it above the ankle.
•         Ground through the 4 corners of the feet.
•         Rotate of the fronts of the thighs outwards, helping you to maintain a stable base.
•         Roll the pelvis slightly, engaging abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.
•         Establish a long slow, steady breath to relax and quieten your mind.
•         Reach up with the arms, hands shoulder width apart, relaxing the shoulders.
•         Find your Dristi, an unfocused gaze, on a point at eye height.

 

The Transition from Warrior 1 into Warrior 2 Pose:

On your next exhalation:

•         Keep the core engaged, rotate the right hip backwards to face the right of the room.
•         Maintain your Dristi. The rotation of the hips will turn the torso slightly towards the right.
•         Keep the left knee still, directly above the ankle and the 4 corners of the feet grounded.
•         Turn the palms of the hands outwards, preparing the shoulders for the next move.
•         Reach backwards with the right fingertips and forward with the left to shoulder height.
•         Reaching further backwards though the right fingertips will help to turn the torso to the right.
•         If your shoulders have lifted, rotate your palms upward as this will relax the arms and should help to roll down shoulders onto the correct position, keeping them still, rotate the palms down.
•         Resit the tendency to lean forwards or tilt the hips, reaching backwards helps with this.
•         Keep your core strong, and length though the spine, look straight ahead.

 

These poses and transitions are key to yoga and if you’d like to improve your practice this is a great transition to focus on. I’d love to help you to perfect it, view my videos online at www.hummingbirdpialtes.co.uk under blogs and join me at my studio for a class using code HPYFREECLASS. Book now at www.hummingbirdpilates.co.uk