Triangle
Sanskrit: Trikanasana
Image of Maggie Anderson taken by Maggie Anderson
The Triangle yoga pose is fantastic for opening up the hips, heart and chest, as well as strengthening the legs, thighs, glute’s, spine and our waist! One of my many favorite poses. Finding the freedom in this pose proves easy as our heart and hips are open allowing for release of emotional stagnant blockages. Feel the energy flow outward and upward clearing your body. A great pose to begin with prior to Half Moon pose. This pose also:
- Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles
- Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
- Stimulates the abdominal organs
- Helps relieve stress
- Improves digestion
- Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
- Relieves backache, especially through second trimester of pregnancy
- Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica
Directions on how to come into the pose:
Have a block ready in front of the foot we will lean towards. Begin in a wide legged stance, about a legs length apart or 3 1/2 to 4 feet apart. Have arms out shoulder height (in Five Pointed Star pose) and check to see that your ankles are under your wrists. This will be about the right legs length apart for you. Feet are facing forward, parallel each other.
From here point your right foot out to the side, align the right heel with the left heel, keeping the center of your right knee cap in line with and facing the same direction at your second and third toes.
Take arms up shoulder height, palms facing down. From here begin to extend your arms and torso over the right leg, going as far as you can go–reach, reach, reach. And then begin to cartwheel arms, right arm flow down and left flow upward. Straight line from right to left hands. Allow your right hand to fall where it may here, either on a block, your thigh, shine, ankle or the mat. This will be perfect for you, as you work on flexibility eventually this pose may deepen for you.
Be mindful that you are not collapsing down, but keeping the two side waists equally long and still feeling a straight spine, extending up towards your head. Rotate the torso to the left, keeping hips and heart open here. Find the freedom in this pose. As your left arm is extended up towards the ceiling, your hand is open and fingers stretching up. You may gaze up, forward or down. Whatever feels most comfortable for the neck here. Honor the wisdom of your body always.
Stay in this pose for 30 seconds to a minute or 5 deep breaths here. To come out feel as if someone is pulling your left hand upward with a string and lift your torso all the way up. Practice this pose on the other side for the same length of time, before finishing by walking feet in towards each other, heel-toe-heel-toe in to Mountain pose.
When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
Diarrhea, Headache, Low blood pressure. If you have a heart condition practice this pose against a wall, keep the top arm on the hip. If high blood pressure turn the head to gaze downward in the final pose. For neck issues, don’t turn your head to look upward; continue looking straight ahead and keep both sides of the neck evenly long.
Check out my calendar for group yoga classes dates and time.