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Happy Asana August 24, 2023 – Asanas (Poses) – Hip Openers / Forward Bends
Good morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a series on different categories of Asanas I use – Seated, Standing, Heart Opener / Backbend, Hip Opener / Forward Bend, Arm Balance, Inversion, Twist, and Reclined. Today we will cover Hip Openers or Forward Bending Asanas. Please note through this series that many of the Asanas can belong to more than one group – for example a seated twist would clearly belong to both Seated and Twist categories, and a reclined twist would belong to both Reclined and Twist.
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Bonus Daily Asana Challenge
We are in the middle of a daily Asanas practice challenge for August! Please see our Asana Styles page for links to YouTube videos for various Yoga Styles. For our focus on Forward Bending Asanas today, I recommend a Vinyasa class, which will flow between Heart Opening and Hip Opening poses.
I usually practice with the Yoga Studio App rather than streaming services, so I can download my favorite classes and use in areas without Wifi or phone signal. This week I am doing one of my favorites – Beginner AM (20 Minute), which includes the beginner version of this pose that I can do! I modify with more advanced versions of poses including full side plank, standard extended side angle, and lowering slowly from plank to Chaturanga Dandasana / Yoga Push-Up… I am still working arm strength to do the Intermediate version of this class!
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try any forward bend Asana. Some Forward Bending Asanas are beginner or basic poses, but I would consider this group as a whole to be intermediate since as you progress, you will come into deeper forward bends in your practice, for example progressing from Uttanasana or Standing Forward Bend into Padangusthasana and Padahastasana. I have found these Asanas to be an important lesson in coming only to where comfortable and breathing to open, rather than pushing oneself to discomfort.
Today I recommend my favorite Balasana or Child Pose Sequence – starting in Child’s Pose with arms back and palms up, then Wide Child’s pose with palms down, and back to Child’s Pose with arms back and palms down.
Hip Opener / Forward Bend Asanas
Uttanasana – Standing Forward Bend
Parivrtta Uttanasana – Standing Forward Bend Twist
Ananda Balasana – Happy Baby Pose
Matsyasana – Fish Pose (with lotus legs)
Agnistambhasana – Fire Log Pose
Baddha Konasana – Cobbler / Butterfly / Bound Angle Pose
Supta Baddha Konasana – Reclined Bound Angle / Goddess Pose
Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana – Mermaid Pose
Supta Kapotasana – Reclined Pigeon Pose
Utkata Konasana – Goddess Pose
Check out more Asanas on Yoga Journal
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More Positive Practices
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Related Positive Practices
Share your Practice
Please comment to share your experience! What did you think? Which is your favorite of these Hip Opener Asanas? Always remember, be kind!
