Coiling The Spring

Parivrtta Hasta Padangustasana is a powerful pose for developing a specific type of rotational core strength that we use all the time in skiing.  As the legs turn to redirect the skis across the fall line the oblique abdominals start to work to maintain a strong and stable aligned stance while the lower body twists under the upper body.  Like coiling a spring tight this action of twisting that is inherent in skiing creates a lot of energy.  As soon as the muscles that maintain the twist are softened at the end of the turn the energy is released and the body naturally unwinds back to a neutral, skis heading down the fall-line position.  Any skier, with training and time, can learn how to harness the energy created through this twisting action to propel themselves from one turn to the next.  The first step is developing a strong core.  Parivrtta Hasta Padangusthasana is both a balance and a twisting pose. It strengthens the oblique muscles while stretching the outer leg.  Both of these effects will improve your performance on the slopes.

How to do it:

Start in Tadasana Mountain pose.  Spread the toes of the right foot to connect the  4 points of the foot (big toe mound, pinkie toe mount, inner and outer edge of the heel) to the yoga mat.  Bend the left knee and take hold of the left big toe with the first two fingers and thumb of the left hand.  On the next inhale start to extend the left leg straight forward.  This is Utthita Hasta Padangustasana or regular hand to big toe pose.  

If you are still working to straighten the left leg, if you feel you can not extend the leg without rounding the lower back, or if balance is a struggle then keep working this version of the posture for as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable, strong, and stable.  There is no rush in Yoga.  We move at our bodies natural pacing and through the practice we slowly transform the body until we can safely and comfortably move onto more challenging postures.  I can not emphasize this enough.  

To move into the revolved version of the posture, Parvrtta Hasta Padangusthasana, bend the left leg and take hold of the left foot with the right hand, left hand on left hip.  Again start to extend the left leg and twist the torso to the left.  If you feel strong here start to extend the left hand towards the wall behind you.  Ideally there will be one long line from the left fingertips to the outer edge of the left foot.  Hold for 5 - 8 cycles of breath and repeat on the opposite side.  

A great modification for this posture is to use a chair against a wall.  Stand in front of the chair with the chair back agains the wall and the seat facing you.  The heel of the extended leg will rest of the chair back with the four points of the foot pressing firmly into the wall.  It can be helpful to cushion the chair back with a blanket first.  Withe the standing leg firmly rooting into the ground and the extended leg firmly rooting into the wall it is possible to gain the stability to experiment with twisting in opposition to the extended leg.  The hand does not need to come all the way to the outer foot for the posture to be effective.  Place the opposite hand on the shin bone of the extended leg same as you move into the twist reaching behind yourself with same side arm out stretched.  Hold this posture 5 - 8 cycles of breath each side and practice weekly to strengthen the oblique muscles and lengthen the IT bands.    

For more information on this posture visit the video section of thespiritualskier.com  to watch a demonstration of this posture.