Sanskrit – Virabhadrasana I
English – Warrior 1
Shapeshift – Spear Thrower
Lesson of the Warrior:
The spear throwers of ancient cultures have always been revered for their strength, focus and balance. Direction and accuracy are more beneficial than distance.
We can bring this energy to our mats remembering that practice and maintenance provide us the opportunity to gain strength, focus and balance.
Benefits, Systems, Considerations
Benefits:
Helps improve balance, focus and stability
Relieves stress
Working on this posture improves all standing poses and hip openers
Systems:
Skeletal – opening space and create strength in the shoulder, Strengthen ankles
Muscular – Strengthens arms, shoulders, back, glutes and hamstrings, Tones abdomen and outer hips
Circulatory – raising arms overhead increase circulation
Digestive – organs are massaged and stimulated
Immune – As space is created, breath is expanded supporting stronger immunity
Considerations:
People with high blood pressure and heart ailments should modify posture as needed, easing into pose and keeping arms by side if needed
Students with shoulder problems could keep their raised arms parallel to each other or on hips.
Students with neck problems could keep their head in a neutral position and not look up at the hands.
For knee issues, focus on bending slowly and mindfully into pose ensuring knee is not extending past ankle
