Technique
- From a standing position with feet separated hip width apart or slightly wider bend the knees and bring the arms behind the legs. Plant the hands behind the feet, fingers pointing forward.
- Shift the weight to your hands pressing the hands on the floor.
- Take the feet off the floor and cross the ankles right over left.
- Squeeze the legs against the arms.
Form tips
- Spread the fingers wide and balance the weight between the heel of the hand and fingers.
- Crossing the feet requires clearing the floor by a few inches when lifting them up. Flex the spine, protract the shoulders and engage your core and back muscles to lift the feet off the floor and create space.
- Crossing the feet requires deep external hip rotation and flexion. You can work on janu sirsasana, malasana, or baddha konasana ( Butterfly stretch) to gain flexibility.
Muscles
Strength
Secondary
- Triceps
- Serratus anterior
- Back
- Shoulders
- Forearms
- Chest
Equipment
Appears in
Progressions

Shoulder-Pressing Pose head to ground
Advanced

Shoulder-Pressing Pose sequence
Elite

Shoulder-Pressing Pose to Crane Pose
Advanced
Regressions

Assisted Shoulder-Pressing Pose
Novice
View Similar Exercises
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Shoulder-Pressing Pose chin to ground
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Assisted Shoulder-Pressing Pose with heel hook
Intermediate

Assisted Shoulder-Pressing Pose with forward lean
Intermediate

Tripod headstand to crow pose
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Flying split
Intermediate
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