Stress Less in Triangle
by Laura Kallen
www.laurakallen.com
It’s no secret that yoga is good for you for so many reasons. Research has shown that yoga can help manage stress, tension, anxiety, blood pressure, back pain, depression and fatigue. A consistent yoga practice can help to support the immune system and improve circulation, not to mention improving muscle tone, flexibility, balance and strength. And then there’s the good stuff– the sense of well being and chilled out vibe we create for ourselves.
Trikonasana or Triangle pose is a posture when expressed thoughtfully and fully will stretch and open the hips, groin, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, chest and spine while strengthening the obliques, waist, thighs, knees and ankles. Triangle can reduce stress, anxiety, improve digestion and can alleviate back, neck and sciatica pain.
Here’s how to align yourself properly:
Start with your heels in alignment and step your left foot back roughly 3 feet, turning it out slightly. Feet should be close enough together to be able to straighten both legs. Raise your arms parallel to the floor and lengthen them out to the sides at shoulder height, actively reaching hands away from one another. Elongate up from the base of the spine through the crown of your head. Firm up the thighs. Exhaling, extend your torso forward over the right leg, hinging from the hip. Ground this movement by strengthening the back leg and pressing your heel into the floor. Bending from the hip joint bringing the right hand inside the right leg. Your right hand can either be on the floor or resting on the shin. Lengthen the tailbone toward the back heel, draw the shoulders away from the ears and look up, ahead or down, whatever feels best on your the neck at the time.
Try to stay in triangle for 30 seconds to 1 minute, being observant of your mind, body and breath. Do your best to stay in the moment and keep your mind in the present. Inhale to come up, firmly pressing the back heel into the floor and reaching the left arm toward the ceiling. Reverse the feet and repeat for the same length of time on the other side.
BIO
Laura Kallen has completed a nationally recognized 200-hour registered yoga teacher training and to date has taught over 3,000 hours of yoga. Through her yoga practice, Laura became even more in tune with her body and noticed how her nutrition played an integral role in her energy level, her mood, happiness and her overall sense of balance and well-being. She is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and helps provide individuals with support and the tools they need to help create more life balance, better health and a higher level of self-care.
As a yoga instructor and health counselor, Laura’s mission is to empower her clients to achieve their health and life goals so that they can reach their optimum potential and be their best selves.
Laura Kallen is the founder of Creative Wellness Products and her innovative DVD Balanced Yoga with Laura Kallen was released in 2009 to rave reviews. She offers weekly classes in the New York Metropolitan area. For more information or to contact please go to www.laurakallen.com
