Yoga ensures thorough strengthening of your entire body aside from making it more flexible than it is otherwise. While most yoga poses focus on providing flexibility to your spine and easing your body movements, the Virabhadrasana or the Warrior Pose 1 aims to strengthen your shoulders, arms, back and legs. Moreover, this yoga pose helps yogis open their chest. Etymologically speaking, Virabhadra means a warrior created by the Hindu god Shiva out of a clump of hair. So, the Virabhadrasana tends to endow yoga practitioners with warrior-like strength and stamina.
However, before you actually start attempting this pose, it’s recommended to know about the steps involved in this yoga pose. You should be acquainted with the benefits and cautions of Virbhadrasana.
Steps Involved
1. As you do in most asanas, come into Tadasana or the Mountain Pose.
2. Bring your arms up parallel to your ears and try to keep your palms as closer as is possible for you.
3. Now step your feet apart as in Extended Hands and Feet Pose while inhaling. Next, as you exhale, try to turn your hips and pelvis toward right leg. Bend your right leg while taking your thigh out. Make sure that your shin makes a right angle with your thigh. Your thigh bone should be parallel to the mat you are standing on. On the other hand, you shin should be in vertical position.
4. If your neck allows you, look up at your palms or otherwise, keep looking forward. Stay in this position for 10-15 seconds and then, release the pose.
5. Please make sure that your arms are lifted while you come out of this pose. Finally, repeat this pose on the other side.
Benefits
As discussed in the beginner, the Virbhadrasana or the Warrior Pose One helps you strengthen your legs, shoulders and spine, aside from allowing you to open your chest. The powerful standing pose helps you increase your stamina and provides strength to your legs and ankles. It helps relieve backaches and stimulates healthy digestion as well. Moreover, it’s highly therapeutic in curing diseases like sciatica, infertility, flat feet and osteoporosis.
Cautions
If you have a recent hip, knee, shoulder or spinal injury, you should avoid this pose. Those suffering with diarrhea or high blood pressure should also consider doing some other pose rather than risking their bodies while attempting this comparatively more difficult yoga pose.
