Featured Pose: Lizard Pose

Lizard Pose

Utthan Pristhasana

We carry many of our negative emotions and stresses in our pelvis. Old patters of fear, guilt and sadness begin to break down and release when we focus on opening our hips, so if increased flexibility and mobility aren’t enough of a reason do get down into lizard pose do it to release your old junk. On a physical level lizard pose is a great pose for working into deeper hip openers. Any variation of this low lunge will help open the hips without taxing the knees - as many of the seated hip openers do. The pose is is a favorite around the studio because it strengthens and stretches the entire muscular structure supporting the low back, pelvis and hips.

Featured
Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 10.25.55 AM.png
Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 10.26.06 AM.png
Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 10.26.15 AM.png


Brian says:
I often half jokingly say that the goal of all this stretching we do is to get the leg behind the head. I'm only half joking because the truth is that a real goal is to sit comfortably in a cross legged pose for breathing exercises and meditation. Lizard is one of the best poses there is to loosen the hips and make your crossed legged seat more comfortable. It feels good to drop down, get your arm behind the forward leg and see if you can crawl behind it! It doesn't matter how far you get of course, the point is to make progress....so you can sit and meditate....and breathe. Lizard is also a good launch off point for one of my favorite arm balances, the one I call B-52 Stealth Bomber. You'll probably see it in the Sunday morning class.

Lizard Pose Benefits:

  • Strengthens the inner thigh of the front leg

  • Opens hips, hamstrings, groin and hip flexors

  • Releases chest, shoulders and neck

Lizard Pose Warnings:

  • Avoid this pose if you have sciatica or lower back pain

Modifications for Lizard Pose:

There are many variations and modifications for this pose. Flexing the front foot and then rolling onto the outer edge while keeping the foot flexed will deepen the stretch in the outer hip. You can also deepen the stretch through your quad while in the outer-hip variation by bending the back leg (foot toward your butt) and reaching back with the opposite hand to grab the back foot, pushing it lower.


FEATURED POSEGuest UserKeelie SuzannComment