Eka Pada Koundiyanasana - Tones the core muscles

Benefits

“Koundi Two” as it’s commonly referred to, is a challenging arm balance with many benefits:

• Strengthens the shoulders, arms and wrists

• Tones the core muscles

• Improves focus

• Improves sense of balance

Cautions

• This is an advanced posture

• Carpel Tunnel syndrome

Steps

1. Start in Downward Facing Dog. Step your left foot about 6 inches up your mat. Now raise your right leg up in the air and step it forward in front, and slightly wider than your right hand.

2. Ensuring to keep your elbows wrapped inward, bend your elbows to bring your shoulders to the same height as your elbows. Rest the back of your right thigh on your right tricep. If your thigh and tricep don’t touch, stay at this step, working on this stage of the pose.

3. Once your right thigh is resting on your tricep, look forward and engage your core. Now, begin to inch your right foot straight forward, until you can fully lift your toes off the ground and point them forward.

4. With your elbows still wrapping inwards, and your core engaged, begin to lift your left toes off the ground and point them straight backwards. Do not hop into this pose; if your foot doesn’t feel as if it will float off the ground, keep working at steps 1-3 until you are strong enough to lift your foot.

5. Stay here for 5 breaths, then push back to Downward Facing Dog and repeat on the other side.

     ENJOY