Strengthen your intuition to see more clearly. Eagle Pose, Garudasana is named after Garuda “King of the Birds.” Connect to the enhanced sight of an eagle.
Benefits:
Strengthens the standing leg and ankle. Stretches hips, thighs, upper back and shoulders. Improves balance and coordination.
How to:
- Start standing feet under hips in a place you feel supported, mountain pose/tadasana
- Lift your left knee up enough to lift the left foot up off the floor, balancing on the right leg.
- Bend the standing right knee
- Cross your left thigh over the right. Left toes pointed towards the floor, or hook the top of the foot behind the lower right calf.
- Balance on the right foot.
- Reach your arms in front of you in line with the shoulders palms facing in towards one another.
- Cross right arm over top of left so elbows cross.
- Bend the elbows so fingers point up to the ceiling.
- Draw the backs of the hands to touch or the right hand comes forward enough to wrap the forearms drawing palms to touch.
- Shoulders stacked over hips. Squeeze the inner thighs towards one another. Lift the fingers toward the ceiling and the forearms away from the chest.
- Breathe evenly. Hold for 3-5 breaths.
- To release, unwind the legs and arms and come to Tadasana. Repeat on the other side
Modify it:
Feeling unstable use the wall for support, sit in a chair or rest the ball of the lifted foot on the mat beside the outer edge of the standing foot. If elbows do not cross reach for backs of shoulder blades (like you are giving yourself a big hug)