Instructions

1. From Mountain pose, step the legs 3-4 feet apart into Five Pointed Star. Inhale the arms behind you and interlace the fingers together. Draw the shoulder blades towards each other and lift the chest and gaze up towards the ceiling.

2. Exhale and hinge at the hips coming forward with the chest, reaching the arms up and forward.  Let the head hang relaxed from the neck.

3. Keep the arms and legs straight.  If you feel the weight back in the heels try and shift your weight forward slightly.

4. Breathe and hold for 4-8 breaths.

5. To release: keep the shoulder blades squeezed together as you inhale back up, taking a deep breath into the belly and chest. Exhale release the arms.

Benefits + Contraindications

Benefits: Standing Yoga Seal improves mental functions, harmonizes the connection between the heart and mind, opens the shoulders, stretches the upper back and legs.

Contradictions: Unmedicated high blood pressure, recent or chronic injury to the legs, back, neck or shoulders.

Modifications + Variations

Modifications: A) Hold a yoga strap between the hands. B) Step the feet wider apart to make the pose easier, step the close to make it more challenging.

Vinyasa

Use one or more of the following postures to build a sequence leading up to this pose: Five Pointed Star, Goddess Squat.

Use one or more of the following postures to build a sequence ending after this pose: Five Pointed Star, Wide-Legged Forward Fold, Wide Legged Down Dog.