| 1. |
Sitting with extension of the trunk
(dandasana). -- Sit on a chair with the trunk upright.
Press hands into the seat. Press shoulder blades into
the back. Move shoulders back and down. |
| 2. |
Hands in prayer position
(namaste). -- Press palms and fingers of each hand
together, with fingers away from their position of
ulnar deviation. Release and repeat, pressing palms
together with fingers spread as widely as possible.
Repeat by pressing metacarpals of each finger. Pull
fingers back into hyperextension, increasing distance
between fingers of each hand. |
| 3. |
Arms extended overhead (urdhva hastasana).
-- Stretch arms and fingers forward and up, with hands
facing vertically. Open palms, keep fingers together
and lock the elbows. Lift sides of the body. Keep
arms straight. |
| 4. |
Arms extended overhead with fingers
interlocked (parvatasana). -- Interlock fingers with
the right thumb base over the left, with the base
of the fingers in contact. Turn palms out and stretch
arms forward and up. Lock elbows and keep arms straight.
Raise trunk by lifting the arms and pull arms farther
back. Lower arms. Repeat with left thumb over the
right. |
| 5. |
Arms interlocked in front of the body
(garudasana). -- Bend elbows, crossing arms in front
of the chest with the forearms stretching up and thumbs
facing the head. Cross left elbow over the right.
Move right hand toward the head and the left hand
away; cross hands and place fingers of the right hand
on left palm. Stand and raise elbows to shoulder level
and bend them. Stretch hands and fingers. Release
arms and stand straight. |
| 6. |
Chair twists (bharadvajasana). -- Sit
sideways on a chair, with right hip and thigh against
the back of chair. Stretch the trunk up and pull shoulders
back. Keep knees and feet together, turn toward the
back of chair. Place hands on back of chair. Pull
left hand to bring left side toward back of chair
and push with right hand to turn right side away.
Turn body then the head to look over right shoulder. |
| 7. |
Standing, mountain pose (tadasana).
-- Stand straightin bare feet, facing forward, feet
together, toes and heels in line, with big toes and
centers of inner ankles touching. Balance weight evenly
on inner and outer edges of both feet and heels and
soles. Lift knee caps into the joints. Raise upper
chest and collarbones. |
| 8. |
90-degree forward bend to wall (half
uttanasana). -- Stand with feet 1 foot apart. Stretch
the arms over head. Bend from the hips, extending
entire body toward the wall, hands touching the wall.
Stretch forward. |
| 9. |
Arms extended overhead with palms together
in prayer position (virabhadraasana 1, arms only).
-- Stand in tadasana. Stretch arms to sides at shoulder
level keeping fingers together. Turn arms circularly
in their sockets, palms facing the ceiling. Keeping
arms straight, extend them over the head until they
are parallel. While moving arms upward, stretch the
sides of chest and armpits. Take arms back, and bring
them closer together; join palms, with the fingers
stretching upward. Lock the elbows. |
| 10. |
Dog pose with chair, with special emphasis
on hand placement (urdhva mukha svanasana). -- Stand,
feet hip width apart, ffacing the seat of a chair.
Bend, placing palms on the seat, shoulder width apart.
Starighten arms, and lift waist hips and knees a few
inches above chair. Turn arms out and curve trunk
back between them. Bring coccyx, sacrum and lumbar
spine forward, keeping buttocks tight. Stretch front
of the body from the pubis. Raise sternum and ribs.
Hold shoulders back. Press shoulder blades and dorsal
spine in. |
| 11. |
Hands joined in prayer position behind
the back (namaste). -- Stand in tadasana. Join palms
behind the back, fingers pointing down and in line.
Turn hands toward the trunk and then up. Raise them
as high as possible between the shoulder blades. Join
heels of the hands and press little fingers into the
dorsal spine. Stretch fingers up. Turn upper arms
outward and press shoulders back and down. |
| 12. |
Relaxation. -- Lie flat on the back.
Keep arms slightly away from thighs, palms up, heels
together and toes apart. Close eyes. Breathe deeply.
Concentrate on soft, slow exhalation. Relax lower
jaw, tongue and pupils of the eyes. Relax completely
and exhale slowly. Remain in pose for 10 to 15 minutes. |