Let’s transition to the ultimate standing pose that can be done during your daily life. Ground yourself at the top of your mat in this strong pose. Stand with your feet together and your heels slightly apart. For beginners, stand with your feet hip-width apart. Feel your feet planted firmly into the earth. Lift your toes, spread them wide, and lower them back down. Find a little bit of the earth beneath you visible between each toe. Press into all four corners of the feet and reach the crown of the head toward the heavens. Draw your shoulder blades in and down as your chest lifts. Create space throughout the body by lifting your ribs off your waist. Bring your chin parallel to the floor and your hands to prayer in front of your heart. Close your eyes and breathe here for one to five minutes.
Mountain pose is the beginning of sun salutations — a series of poses that can be a complete practice alone or a lovely warm-up for a longer practice. Sun salutations are traditionally practiced to greet the day, welcome the sunshine and connect to that sacred place within. However, in our busy lives, getting in a sun salute at midnight is still powerful. The poses that follow will provide you with this savvy sequence one pose at a time.
This pose improves posture, allows you to walk into a room with confidence, relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet.
Omwork (homework with a yogic twist): Practice mountain pose while waiting in line at the bank, standing on the Metro or sipping a cosmo at this weekend’s cocktail party.
Kimberly Wilson is the founder of Tranquil Space Yoga and Tranquil Space Foundation.
She designs TranquiliT Luxe Lifestyle Wear, which offers comfy eco-chic clothing, and has written “Hip Tranquil Chick,” which highlights how to lead a mindfully extravagant life. Visit her at kimberlywilson.com.
