HEALTH An all-round yoga stretch

Strike an all-round pose


Yoga
Lee Kennedy

The Triangle Pose (also called ‘Trikonasana’) provides a lovely long stretch to many of the muscles of the body, resulting in an improvement in their overall functioning. It’s a great pose for the spine and lower back, and it strengthens the lateral muscles and hamstrings. It also opens up the lungs and strengthens and stimulates the kidney area.
As the pose aims to increase circulation to the spinal area and strengthen the abdominal and neck area, it can help ease backache and minor neck pain. The pose also stimulates the abdominal organs, there by helping to relieve constipation and indigestion, it also helps restore the digestive tract and stimulate the appetite. Practising this pose on a regular basis also help remove fat from the waist and thighs – helping you along with those new year resolutions! If you have low blood pressure or headache, however, this pose is not for you.

Triangle Pose
Inhale and jump the legs about four feet apart, keeping the feet parallel and facing forwards.
Lift the knees and draw the thighs back.
Lift the trunk and chest area.
Extend the arms straight out in line with shoulders, keeping the shoulders down.
Turn the right leg, thigh and foot 90 degrees to the right, and turn the left foot slightly in.
Check that the middle of the thigh, knee and ankle are in line as the leg rotates to the right. Try to keep your trunk facing forward.
Exhale and extend the trunk to the right, placing the right hand down on the shin bone. As your flexibility improves, you will be able to stretch farther into this position.
Stretch the left arm straight up in line with the left shoulder.
Turn the head and look up towards the left thumb.
Inhale, bring the arms down to shoulder level again by straightening up.
Repeat on the other side, turning left leg, foot and thigh to left.

Lee Kennedy qualified with The BKS Iyengar Yoga Association UK, the YTTC and Ana Forrest of Forrest Yoga. She specialises in pregnancy-related yoga and also studied with Janet Balaskas, founder of the Active Birth Foundation, UK. Visit Yogadara.com or call 0863906343 for more information.