Heron Pose | Krounchasana

HERON POSE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sit on the mat with your feet together, legs extended and your spine stacked vertically.
2. Bend your left knee and bring the foot back, next to your left thigh.
3. Bend your right knee and place the foot on the floor, just in front of the sitting bone.
4. Grasp your right foot with both hands, extend the leg and lift the foot.
5. Stay in heron pose for 30 seconds, reverse legs and repeat.

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE

Open the chest, keep your torso long and press the shoulder blades against your back. Inhale as you lift the leg and exhale as you release the stretch and switch leg positions.

KROUNCHASANA BENEFITS

The heron pose is an intense hamstring stretch that also stimulates the abdominal organs, reduces bloating and improves digestion.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Knee or ankle injury.

PREPARATORY, COMPLEMENTARY AND FOLLOW-UP POSES

Start with staff pose, bound angle pose or head to knee forward bend and then progress to heron pose. Follow-up with wide angle seated bend or seated forward bend.

RELATED YOGA POSES

Try these other yoga poses to relax and relieve stress and tension:
Cow face pose with eagle arms
Easy pose with ear to shoulder stretch
Rabbit pose
Intense side stretch pose

YOGA ESSENTIAL FLOWS