Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)

1. Start by standing in Tadasana and balance your weight equally on both feet.
2. Breathing in, extend your arms overhead.
3. Breathing out, bend forward with a flat back and down towards your feet.
4. Stay in the posture for 20-30 seconds and continue to breath deeply.
5. Keep your legs and spine erect with hands resting either on the floor, beside your feet or on your legs.
6. On an out breath, move your chest towards your knees and lift your hips and tailbone higher.
7. Let your head relax and move it gently towards your feet. Keep breathing deeply.
8. Breathing in, stretch your arms forward and up and slowly up to a standing position.
9. Breathing out, bring the arms to the sides.

• Stretches the muscles on the back of the body
• Invigorates the nervous system by increasing circulation
• Increases blood flow to the brain
• Stretches the hamstrings
• Tones the abdominal organs

• Back injuries
• Spondylitis
• Hyperextended knees

• To Modify: If knees are hyperextended or in pain, hyperextend the knees.

• Mountain Pose | Tadasana (Preparatory)
• Downward-Facing Dog | Adho Mukha Svanasana  (Preparatory)
• Standing Forward Bend With Feet Apart | Prasarita Padahastasana (Follow-up).

Browse our entire yoga poses library and learn more about each yoga pose in detail.

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