“It is better to be a warrior in the garden, than a gardener in a war.” – Chinese Proverb
It is called a yoga PRACTICE because that is what yoga teaches. Yoga teaches you to practice what is hard while being calm. Practice mental and physical strength in times of ease so you are ready in times of stress. The Chinese proverb above is all about being ready in times of calm. If there is anything to learn from these monthly yoga postures, it’s that it all takes practice and consistency. Practice calm, practice strength, practice mental and physical flexibility while you can so when you need to call upon these mental and physical qualities, you are able to. The mental and physical tools become easy to access.
Warrior 2, or Virabhadrasana b, is a posture that is as simple and beautiful as they come. An accessible posture for most bodies, warrior 2 allows you to feel several meanings of yoga, the lengthening of the muscles, the strength, the discipline, the mental fluctuations, the breath, the stillness, and the readiness to move.
The posture is deceptively simple: One leg is bent, one leg is straight, the arms are out. It’s a gorgeous transition posture, however, when you stay in the posture for a few breaths you feel the strength on the bent leg and the desire to straighten the leg. You may want to sink the hips down, but feeling ready to strike is the goal. Avoid allowing the center of your body to deaden the pose. Although you are still, there is energy building within the legs.
The upper part of the body is calm and at ease. The gaze is soft, over the forward middle finger, aka, your target. A common mistake is reaching toward your middle finger, but stay centered. Maintain your shoulders over your hips, not reaching too far forward. Your shoulders, jaw and forehead will want to clench and clamp as the heat in the legs build, but the object is to remain calm and focused, letting the breath build quiet energy within.
A common adjustment to make is to check the bent knees position over the ankle. You should be able to see the big toe on the inside of the knee if you gaze down. If the knee is covering the big toe or the big toe is on the opposite side, simply guide the knee outward.
Calm and at ease, but ready to energetically strike at any moment: This is warrior 2.
Warrior 2
Standing sideways on your mat (facing the longways), widen your stance so your legs are about 3-4 feet apart.
Let your right leg and toes point toward the top of the mat (the short end closest to the right foot.)
Allow the left heel to slightly shift to face the left side, short-edge of the mat.
Keep the left toes in line with the left knee.
Bend the right knee to a 90° angle or as close as your mobility allows.
Check the right knee to make sure that it is opening toward the pinky side of the right foot. It will likely try and cave toward the arch side of the foot.
Allow the arms to lengthen and “grow” from the spine as if they were wings keeping the palms facing toward the ground. Keep the arms shoulder height.
Turn your head to face the right hand and gaze over the right middle finger.
Stay in the posture for 5 breaths and switch sides.
