I notice where my body is tugging from stress or lack of movement. Elongate from the pelvis through the top of your head. These three reminders help me initiate a firm Mountain Pose every time: Root through all sides of the feet as if I am grasping the ground with my ‘yogi toes.’ Externally rotate the quads aligning the knees and hips. Why we love it: “On the outside, Mountain Pose looks extremely simple, but internally the muscles are active, strong, and working hard. Now it’s one of my favorite poses.” Mountain Pose basics What had once been a simple beginning stance became, for me, a physical embodiment of inner stability, peace, and intentionality in my yoga practice and my life. “I used to get into Tadasana pose without really thinking,” says Yoga Journal contributing editor Gina Tomaine, “But once I dug deeper into my yoga practice, I realized there were so many minuscule movements I needed to be aware of in order to truly embody this pose: bringing my shoulders down, pulling my shoulder blades toward my spine, softening my knees. The empowering nature of Tadasana also enhances stability and promotes self-esteem and inner strength. Is it level with the tailbone in a neutral position following the natural curve of the spine? Because this pose requires you to keep the shoulders open and down, away from the ears, it serves to improve posture. Your hips, knees, and ankles should stack evenly over one another. In Tadasana you stand upright with your feet facing forward parallel to each other.
There’s actually a lot to pay attention to in this seemingly straightforward pose. It is considered the baseline for the many other standing poses in yoga, so correctly learning this posture is essential.
Though Tadasana (Mountain Pose) might seem simple, it is actually a deeply vital foundational pose for your yoga practice.
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