Skip to main content

Technique

  1. Stand up, step the feet apart a little wider than shoulder width, turning the right foot out 90 degrees and the left foot in slightly.
  2. Bend the right knee to 90 degrees and reach the arms out from the shoulders ( Warrior 2 pose).
  3. With an exhale, bend at the right hip, taking the upper body to the side and the right hand to a block on the outside edge of the foot.
  4. Reach the left arm over the ear and gaze past the arm and toward the top hand.
  5. Hold for 5 breaths.
  6. Stand up, rotate the feet and repeat on the other side.

Form tips

  • The block can be set to a high (on its end), medium (on its long edge) or low (flat on the widest surface) setting.
  • Keep the chest and hips opening to the side. Avoid collapsing the chest or hips toward the floor.
  • Keep the weight evenly distributed across both feet, taking care to keep the whole back foot grounded if possible.
  • Create a straight line from the top wrist to the back ankle.
  • For tight shoulders, reach the top arm straight up and emphasize the opening of the chest to the side.
  • Keep the ankle, knee and hip aligned as you bend the knee.
Logging: Work each side for the time indicated.

Muscles

Strength

Secondary

  • Quadriceps
  • Glutes
  • Hamstrings
  • Pelvis
  • Hip adductors
Flexibility

Primary

  • Obliques
  • Pelvis
  • Spine

Secondary

  • Neck
  • Abs
  • Quadriceps
  • Glutes
  • Hamstrings
  • Hip adductors
  • Rectus femoris
  • Vastus medialis
  • Vastus intermedius
  • Vastus lateralis
  • Gluteus maximus
  • Semitendinosus
  • Semimembranosus
  • Biceps femoris (long)

Equipment

Appears in

Other disciplines
Joint movements
trains stretches

Progressions

e0ux

Extended side angle pose

Novice
e0uz

Elbow-support side angle

Novice
e0v1

Revolved side angle hand inside

Novice
e0v2

Revolved side angle prayer hands

Novice
e0q2

Kneeling lunge lifts

Novice
e0v3

Revolved side angle pose

Intermediate
Want to log this exercise? Open it in Calistree. Text and images are used under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; the video plays from the original source.