Pose Breakdown: Pyramid

 
How to do Pyramid Pose
 
 

 

Parsvottanasana

Pronounced: parsh-voh-tahn-AHS-ah-nuh

  • parsva = side

  • ut = intense

  • tan = stretch

  • asana =pose


How To Do Pyramid Pose: Step- by- Step

  • From Mountain Pose, step back into a High Lunge

  • Rotate your back leg outward by turning your back foot to a slight angle, between 45-90 degrees, and drop heel down

  • Work toward straightening your front leg

  • Press into the ball of the front foot to engage calf muscles, and press into the pinky toe edge of your back foot

  • Exhale as you fold over the front leg

  • Lengthen both sides of torso evenly

  • Take 5-10 breaths

 
 

Benefits

  • Stretches the glutes, hamstrings, and calves

  • Strengthens the legs

 
 

Variations

  • If you notice discomfort in the back leg, knee, or ankle, lift the back heel up as you would in a lunge position

  • If your front hamstrings feel tight, it is absolutely okay to bend the front knee or even bring your hands down to blocks

  • If you would like to increase stretch in calves, lift the toes and ball of foot up in the front foot

  • If you want to try a different variation in the chest and shoulders, try clasping opposite forearms behind you, or try reverse prayer position ( just remember to squeeze your shoulderblades together in these variations)

  • You can also regress this pose by dropping your back knee down and turning this position into Half Splits

 
 

try it in class

If you want to continue learning how to do Pyramid Pose, take these classes:

MOBILITY FLOW ON YOGA GLO WITH KATIE BAKI

FORWARD FOLDS FLOW ON YOGA GLO WITH KATIE BAKI

 
 

 
 
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