Meet Anne Taylor, Present Wisdom’s yoga teacher of month – April 2021. Anne shares her favorite yoga pose Warrior II.
Anne’s Favorite Pose: Virabhadrasana II – Warrior 2
Why Warrior II?
While it’s easy to “hang out” in Warrior II, proper alignment and engagement in this posture really fires up the whole body! Warrior II strengthens the legs, opens the hips and inner thighs and works the core region. Warrior II also lengthens and strengthens the arms, but calls for soft shoulders and a relaxed face, resulting in a wonderful balance of power and ease. Warrior II also serves as the foundation for many of the standing postures we explore in a vinyasa flow, like Viparita Virabhadrasana/Peaceful Warrior (another favorite of mine!), Parsvakonasana/Side Angle and Trikonasana/Triangle. What’s not to love?
How do I take this pose “off the mat”?
When guiding students in Warrior II, I often give the cue, “Strong legs, soft shoulders,” a concept that’s also helpful in approaching life. I’m all about taking a firm stance in what I believe in and feeling confident in my abilities. However, it’s important to balance assurance with humility and ease. Overconfidence can often lead to stress and tension, which can interfere with being a true and graceful warrior!
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