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Side Plank | Vasisthasana
Side plank builds core strength and improves balance. This is a great pose to strengthen the legs, arms, shoulders and wrists. Also, practicing side plank stretches the wrist and lengthens the spine.
Sanskrit: Vasisthasana
Drishti: upward toward the raised hand, forward ,or down at bottom hand.
Counterpose: child's pose
Materials
- yoga mat
Instructions
- Start in downward facing dog.
- Inhale and lower your right knee down, keeping the left leg straight. Exhale and bring awareness to your right hand as you slowly lift the left hand up toward the sky, opening up the side body.
- Inhale and engage the muscles of your arms and legs while keeping the left leg extended. Exhale and extend the right leg, moving the left foot to stack on top of the right foot.
- Hold for a few breaths then slowly release back to downward facing dog. Repeat on other side.
Notes
Modification: For a gentle variation, keep one knee down.
Preparatory poses: downward facing dog, high plank, chaturanga, half moon
Follow-up poses: downward facing dog, upward facing dog, child's pose