Eagle Pose

Who:

You 

What posture?

Eagle

Where is the primary focus?

Compressing the major joints of the body, building leg strength and balance. 

Where does the posture provide maximum benefits?

Legs, ankles, knees, core, lower spine, shoulders, elbows, and cervical spine.

When and where could I feel the stretch?​​

The target areas are your lower back and shoulders, possibly in the back of your hips.

Why should I do this posture?

You build strength in your legs and increase your balance. It also helps with neuroplasticity because you are crossing your arms and legs across the sides of the body. It also helps with joint maintenance. 

How can I improve? 

So often, how to improve is the same for each posture. Slow down, move mindfully, and check in with how your body feels. You can use this connection between what you want to happen, what is happening, and how it feels to build a better connection with yourself as well as understanding what your body is trying to communicate to you.  

Trying to make all of these adjustments can be exhausting, but if you have the energy try playing with one or more of these ideas. Instead of using momentum to cross your arms, you can slow down and use your muscles. Sit down and back as much as you can and keep your hips down. Lift your leg straight up instead of swinging it out to the side. Once your arms and legs are crossed the posture becomes about small movements. Along with following the instructions, begin adjusting your posture from the bottom to the top. Ask yourself these questions; Can you flatten your foot to the floor more? Can you bring the toe in the lifted leg to the side and down more? Can you bring your legs in the direction of your upper leg to even out your hips? Can you squeeze your legs tighter together? Can you lift your chest up to create a deeper backward bend? Can you pull your elbows down? Can you lift your chin up? Can you relax your jaw, and mouth, and possibly even your thinking, all while breathing calmly?