As mentioned above, alignment is everything for finding freedom in this posture. Start with the hands as the first point of foundation. Bring awareness to the palms, and keep the tips of the fingers and the knuckles at the base of the finger joints pressing firmly into the ground. Especially notice the base of the index finger and keep it pressing into the ground. This will help to dome up the hands and engage the muscles in the forearms. Next take attention to the shoulders and elbows. Rotate the shoulders externally and bring the shoulder blades onto the back. As you do this the eye of the elbow or inner part of the elbow will begin to rotate towards the front of the room and the pointy part will spin back to face slightly towards the toes. Next step the legs back into a full extension. Line the toes and heels up with each other, press the hamstrings to the ceiling and firm the front of the thighs. This will give lightness to the body and take some of the work out of the upper body. Bring the pelvis into align. The front of the hip bones (the ASIS) should be in the same horizontal plane as the bottom of the pubic bone. To do this, firm the lower abdomen and think of narrowing the front of the pelvis. Watch for the gluteals doing the work here. The buttocks will be firm but it is not the primary source of support for this posture and is often misused in place of the abdominals. Create continuity through the torso by keeping a connection around the entire circumference of the body between the top of the hipbones and the bottom of the ribcage. Here is where we start to find the buoyancy of the body. Keep the head in alignment, the chin is perpendicular to the floor, the back of the neck is lengthened and the eyes are looking out about a foot in front of the hands. Now lift up and out of the wrists and flower the chest forward, energize the whole body and float in this posture!

• Strengthens throughout the body: legs, core, back, shoulders, arms, hands and neck.
• Powerful and invigorating
• Lengthens the spine
• Builds endurance

• Sagging in the pelvis and lower back-  an anterior pelvic tilt (pelvis tipping forward) or pelvis lifted too high and tucking under into a posterior pelvic tilt.
• Ribs popping
• Rounded thoracic- overusing pectorals
• Elbows locked and weight in wrists
• Head out of alignment- lifting the chin up or dropping the head down

• Avoid if experiencing carpel tunnel syndrome and use caution with wrist and shoulder problems
• Use caution with lower back injuries- make sure they can keep their pelvis neutral

• Perform with the knees on the ground for more support for abdominals and upper body
• Perform on elbows or fingertips
• Roll the edge of the mat or use a wedge under the palms to decrease the angle of the wrist extension.

Eka Pada Kumbhakasana – One legged Plank Pose- Lift one leg off and keep it elevated as you breath and hold the pose. Repeat on the other side

• Downward Facing Dog– Adho Mukha Svanasana
• Upward Facing Dog – Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
• Cat Pose – Marjaryasana
• Child’s Pose – Balasana