Pose Breakdown: Warrior 2

Pronounced: VEER-uh-bhah-DRAH-suh-nuh

From Mountain Pose, step back into a High Lunge
Rotate your back leg by turning your back foot to a 90 degree angle, so that the pinky toe edge of your foot is facing the back of your mat
Open your arms out to a “T” position, and actively reach through both hands
Align your front knee over your 2nd or 3rd toe, and press into the pinky toe edge of your back foot
As you sink deeper into your hips, check to make sure that weight is evenly distributed between front and back legs
Gaze toward your front hand and take 5-10 breaths

If you notice discomfort in the hips, try shortening your stance by stepping your back foot in. You may also try widening your stance.
If you notice discomfort through your shoulders, try bringing your hands to your heart or to your hips.
Another fun variation to try is from a kneeling position, lower to the ground. To get into this variation of Warrior 2, start in a kneeling position with both knees on the ground, step your right foot forward into a lunge position, then pick up your right foot and angle the right leg toward the right, so that your right knee and toes are pointing to the right instead of directly in front of you, sink into the hips in the same way as you would in your standing variation, then “T” out your arms. This version allows a bit more stretch to the inner thighs and it offers a regressed way to practice the external hip rotation that occurs in the standing version of Warrior 2.