7. Stick Pose
Tuladandasana
Balancing stick pose stretches the whole spine, the whole body from the fingertips to the toes, like a human tug-of-war. But don’t hesitate, if you’re late, you’ll miss the posture – it’s only 10 seconds long! No time to think, no time to procrastinate, just stretch and balance like a perfect letter “T” – T for Tricia, T for Terrific, T for Torture, T for Thank God this will be over in 10 seconds…
Start with your feet together, toes and heels touching. Bring your arms up over your head sideways and interlock the fingers, releasing the index finger. Stretch your arms up towards the ceiling like you are trying to touch it and lock out your elbows, no space between your arms and your head. Take a big step forward with your right leg. Bring your weight to the right leg, left toes pointed and off the ground. Reaching forward, bring your body down until everything is parallel to the floor and you look like a perfect letter “T” from the side.
Continuously stretch your body forward, like you are going to touch the mirror, keep your chin forward focusing 4 feet ahead of you. Your whole body stretches in opposite directions, like a human tug-of-war.
Come out of the posture the exact opposite way of how you went in – inhale breathing and, keeping your arms and head together and back toe pointed, reach forward and come up. Step your right leg back to meet your left. End toes and heels together touching, arms still over your head, elbows locked, reaching up to the ceiling. Step forward on the left leg and repeat on the left side.
Benefits
- Improves posture and balance
- Increases flexibility of the knees, ankles and hip joints
- Strengthens internal oblique muscles
- Strengthens leg muscles – especially the quads and calves
- Stretches the adductors along the inner thigh
Don’t Cheat
