Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

How To Do Warrior 1 (Cute Infographic!)

Amy Jirsa
Author:
Amy Jirsa
RYT 500
By Amy Jirsa
RYT 500
Amy Jirsa, LMT, is a master herbalist, E-RYT 500 yoga teacher, forager, and writer from Maine. She is the author of Herbal Goddess: Discover the Amazing Spirit of 12 Healing Herbs with Teas, Potions, Salves, Food, Yoga, and More and the founder of Quiet Earth Yoga.
Image by fizkes / iStock

Whenever my students have a pose they absolutely cannot stand, it’s almost inevitably Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I). And, for a long time, that always surprised me. Finally, one day, I really tried to break it down during my practice. Then I got it.

This is a super dynamic pose. I mean, think about what’s happening in the body — every limb is involved and they’re all going in different directions.

The torso is extended so there may also be a small backbend going on here.

The shoulders are drawing together and down, and the gaze is lifted (either up or out).

Yeah. I can see the trouble.

There’s also the often-taught direction that the hips must be squared to the front of the mat — but so often, due to skeletal structure, muscle tension, and/or muscle strength, this is impossible and the effort will lead to knee pain or injury.

And if that’s all the student is focused on —squaring the hips? Well, the rest of the pose falls pretty drastically apart.

Instead, I tell my students to have a firm foundation in the feet first. Personally, I like a wider stance here because it frees up the pelvis and gives me more space for rotation.

Stack the front knee in line with the front ankle and foot, and draw in and up on the pelvic floor, which will give you some grounding and balance. Then, use that low belly muscle lock (Uddiyana Bandha) and rotate the abdomen and rib cage around to the front of the mat. This is where we’re truly looking for that rotation. Now you have a little space to breathe. Woo! Nice, right?

From here, the arms extend up (I put my palms together and gaze up because that’s traditional in my Ashtanga practice, but the arms can just extend straight up or even out if you have rotator cuff issues) while the shoulder blades draw together and down.

The gaze is focused, either up or out — whatever the neck comfortably allows. The arms are also rotating inwards. Think of rolling the triceps together or of rolling the pinky-sides of the hands toward each other. This will give you so much more space in the shoulders, allowing you to spread the collarbones.

Then? Settle in. This is a beautiful asana and will build so much strength in your body, yes, but also in your mind and in your breath. Remain mindful and feel the extension — both hands, both feet, heart, belly, and chin lifted in celebration of your practice.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Movement
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.