Entering the pose
Step out to the right, hands shoulder height, toes pointing straightforward. Check that the hips are totally square, in one line with the front of the body. (Like the first movement of Trikonasana.)
Turn the left foot slightly inwards. Then, with awareness, turn the right foot out parallel to the edge of the mat (ninety degrees), making sure the turning-out action is actually taking place at the acetabulum (where the top of the thigh bone fits into the …
Becoming the warrior step by step:
From Warrior I to Warrior III
Step your feet out to a wide stance. Turn your left foot slightly in and right foot completely out, with its outer edge parallel to the edge of the mat.
Become aware of the hips and focus on squaring them – drawing your right hip back and your left hip forward.
Focus on grounding strongly through your outer left foot while keeping the inner arch …
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Ground evenly through the four corners of each foot.
Now draw the inner legs upward strongly towards the groins while simultaneously lengthening down through the outer legs.
Keep the shoulder blades firmly drawn into the back ribs.
Keeping your hands by the hips, look down to see the line of the navel and pubic symphisis. It must be pointing straight at the mid point on the floor between the two feet.
Now start to slowly shift weight …
Feet hip-width, and pointing straight forward.
Clasp the elbows, stretch up and exhaling, fold down from the hips, with the knees slightly bent.
Look at the feet; spread the toes open. Be aware of the four corners of each foot; evenly grounded on earth.
THINK – When you bend over, what is happening? We are all born of earth but we seldom bow down to it in respect and humility. In this action of bending down and focusing on grounding points, we are …
Virabhadrasana (Warrior 1)
Practice
Step your feet out to a nice, wide stance.
Turn your right foot out to the right, so that it is parallel to the outer edge of your mat.
Turn the left foot in as much as you have to, so that you feel the left hip in line with the right hip. Awareness of the position of your hipbones relative to each other is something you have to deliberately cultivate in the beginning so that eventually it becomes almost automatic. And …