Yoga Prasarita Padottanasana
The Prasarita Padottanasana
(Forward Bend with Wide Legs)
is a yoga pose reducing tension, stiffness and tiredness in your Hamstrings. Additional this
yoga poseworks out your
lower back and your neck muscles,
which is good for your overall posture
(but only if you keep your back
straight during the exercise) Find more yoga exercises at yoga main.
Execution
- Just like most yoga exercises, the Prasarita Padottanasana is started from the Tadasna (mountain pose). See mountain pose lesson.
-
Make a hop and seprate your feet approximately 2 shoulder widths. Toes point inwards slightly. The knees have to stay extended during the
whole exercise.
-
Bend forward slowly and reach for the floor with your hands. (fingers foint straight forward) It is essention that you keep your upper body straight and if you are able to touch the ground with your hands, your arms should be vertical. (the weight should not rest on your hands) If you cannot touch the ground, just seperate your legs a bit further and go as far as you can. (but don't bounce or arch your back,
keep in mind that gravitaty should do most of the stretch)
-
Push your hips
up and stretch your neck towards the floor.
- Once you can do this easily,
you can grab your calves with your hands and pull your upper body closer to your legs.
This way you can stretch even further. But don't pull too hard or bounce.
Advice
-
Go down with the weight of your upper body. You can slightly pull your upper body towards the legs with the help of your arms, but bouncing, headbanging and pulling really really hard with your arms is not
what this exercise is made for.
-
The further you feet are apart, the
easier the exercise. To intensify the yoga prasarita padottanasana pose, you can close your feet a bit more.
Suggestions
Videos/Images
