This pose is much like the Horse Stance from the martial arts tradition. They both have a wonderfully grounding effect and are both strengthening for the legs and hips. Goddess Pose also strengthens and releases tension from the shoulders.
Let’s Try It
- Stand with all the Mountain Pose activations with the legs wide apart and the feet pointing outwards. Check: if the feet are too wide apart you will feel pressure in your lower back so remedy this by shortening your stance.
- On your next exhalation bend your knees so that they line up directly on top of your ankles.
- Adjust the angle of your feet so that they are parallel to the line of your thighs. Check: Bring one hand to the front of your pelvis and the other to the back. You will notice your pelvis tipping out of alignment if you are going too deeply into the pose.
- Bring your arms out in line with your shoulders or optionally raise them higher to join hands in prayer position. Check: check for shoulders lifting, chest thrusting forward, back of the neck compressing.
- Press evenly into the tripod of your feet and lift the energy up to your sternum and top of your head. Check: sometimes the knees tend to knock inwards and/or the inner arches roll inwards if we neglect the fully engaged feet.
By Vrndavan Dasi
Founder and Principal of Veda Yoga Teacher Training