Seated forward bend yoga posture pictures and directions

YOGA POSTURES ASANA YOGA POSES YOGA POSITIONS
Tadasana Downward Dog Cobra pose Headstand Shoulderstand Warrior 1 pose Warrior 2 pose Triangle pose Half Moon pose child pose Cat Pose

Paschimottasana

Translation: Westward

From a seated position extend the legs out. Push the inner ankles together and align the toes sideways (the pinky toes and outer leg have a tendency to stretch out more due to the external rotation of the legs).

Stretch the spine upwards lengthening it as much as possible then lean forward and down with and exhalation. Allow the body to curve slightly at the shoulders in the beginning. Relax there for a moment until the muscles release then try to straighten the spine forward.

The elbows can open to create space around the neck for the elements to flow. Holding the wrist around the feet creates a good shoulders stretch.

Always try to lengthen the torso and raise the navel forward.

Tips
It may be more beneficial to curl the upper body. The back is stretched more especially around the shoulders and neck. It is however harder to take deep breaths as the lung volume decreases. When you are really flexible this will not be an issue.

You may need a deeper stretch such as Yoganidrasana.

Notice opposite and below. The big toes in the inner corners are not touching. This is actually a mistake and the guy was beaten with a stick
after the shoot. It is important to stretch the big toes inward in many postures such as Akarna Dhanurasana and the bound version of Parivrtta Upavistha Konasana.

The big toes can also be stretched in many other postures including this one. Stretch them when you first enter this pose by holding the big toes and pulling them back towards the body while extending the pinky toes and outer legs out. This will also stretch the outer muscles, ligaments and tendons in the ankles. After a while the inner legs can be lengthened and the toes can be aligned horizontally with the inside of the big toes touching perfectly.

Benefits
The hamstring muscles are stretched (the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and the semimembranosus). If the toes are pulled back a little the gastrocnemius and the soleus and the achilles tendon are stretched. This pose is part of a Yoga for Back Pain sequence.