The Pose

This month’s yoga posture is Eagle Pose (Garudasana), which I practiced with Alison Burmeister, a yoga teacher in Pacific Palisades. She teaches a mat yoga class as well as a chair yoga class at the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, and all are welcome to attend. We twisted, stretched and wrapped our limbs around each other in this fun and challenging yoga posture.

Benefits of Eagle Pose:

• Strengthens arms, legs, knees and ankles.
• Opens the shoulder joints and creates space between the shoulder blades.
• Improves balance.
• Heightens focus and concentration.
• Increases circulation to all joints.
• Stimulates metabolism.

Modifications:

• Bend your knees deeply to create more space to wrap your toes around the back of your calf.
• If your foot doesn’t wrap around your calf, simply keep your legs crossed or keep your big toe on the floor if balance feels difficult.
• If you cannot bring your palms together to touch, either take hold of opposite shoulders or keep the backs of your hands together.
• If you have medical conditions, talk to your doctor before practicing this or other yoga poses.

Instructions:

1. Begin in a standing position as you extend your arms out in front of you and cross your left arm on top of your right arm, bending your elbows as you try to bring your palms together to touch.
2. Next bend both knees and inhale as you pick up your right foot and cross your right thigh over your left one.
3. Point your right toes down as you try to hook your right foot around the back of the left calf while balancing on your left standing leg.
4. Begin to square off your hips and shoulders, keeping your eyes focused on one fixed point to maintain steady and balanced.
5. Try to remain in the pose for five full breaths, then gently unwind and repeat on the opposite side.

A yoga practitioner for over 35 years, Teresa Power helps children and adults unleash their imaginations through yoga. Since 2000, she has been teaching yoga in schools, yoga studios and local organizations, and has helped thousands of people develop a healthy attitude toward their bodies. Power is an internationally recognized yoga expert, keynote speaker and the bestselling, award-winning author of “The ABCs of Yoga for Kids” product line, which has been translated into many languages and sold one-quarter million copies worldwide. She is also the founder of International Kids’ Yoga Day, an annual event that celebrates the health and wellness of our youth worldwide through the practice of yoga. For more information, visit abcyogaforkids.com.