Yoga Upward Salute Pose

Sanskrit: Urdhva Hastasana
Type: Standing
Level: Beginner

• Stand in Tadasana with your feet together. If needed, move your heels slightly apart so that the outer edge of your feet are parallel.
• Pressing into the four corners of your feet, micro-bend your knees and engage your legs; squeezing your knees together, lifting your knee caps towards your thighs, and rolling your inner thighs slightly inwards.
• Raise your arms straight up in front of you to form a 9 degree angle, retract the arm bones into their sockets, and turn them towards one another so that your palms can face each other.
• Push your thighs back, rolling them slightly inward, straighten your knees and send your heels towards the floor.
• Engage your oblique muscles to draw your rib cage slightly inwards (towards the midline) and down (towards your pelvis), lengthen your tailbone towards your heels, and slowly sweep your arms further up to the sky.
• Keeping the shoulders away from the ears, extend your elbows fully, bring your palms together with your fingers stretched, and gently tilt your head back to gaze at your thumbs.