Standing poses are among the most challenging with regards to balance, strength, and coordination. But they harbour a range of benefits for those that have the persistence to see them into their practice. In this article, we want to give you a brief outline of how you can begin to work your way toward an ideal expression of the standing poses that typify much of Iyengar yoga and begin to incorporate these poses into your practice.
Taking a Structured Approach
Yogic traditions extend back over thousands of years. They vary widely, but each has a certain structure to their approach, and Iyengar is no exception. Iyengar yoga is itself one of the more recently developed schools of yoga – though it is one of the first that treats yoga primarily as a mode of exercise.
The gentle cadence of Iyengar yoga, and the focus that our school of yoga has on precision and detail, means that you’ll have plenty of time to explore the intricacies of each pose. But being structured means drawing on guidance at an early stage and is a great way to ensure that you’re taking appropriate steps in your progress.
Explore our Foundational Sequences
Yoga Vastu is home to a collection of online resources perfect for those seeking to expand on their practice. We have a range of videos and written resources that you can draw on to take the structured approach we’re talking about.
Our Basic Standing Pose Sequence is a brilliant starting point. This is a sequence that walks you through a number of standing poses, giving you a foundational exposure to the sensation and demands of standing poses. Other sequences like our Basic Forward Bend Sequence offer a slight step forward from here, encouraging a more detailed engagement with forward bends.
For those between six to twelve months into their practice, and seeking the next challenges – you may find great benefits in our Standing Poses for Beginners Moving to Level 1. These are the sorts of poses you might expect to be performing throughout the transition from beginner through to early intermediate practice.
A Few Pointers on Getting Started
Before you seek to familiarise yourself with these poses, we recommend taking a moment to centre yourself and check in with your body. Standing yoga practices differ from the Relaxing Practices of Savasana in a number of ways. It’s important that you allow yourself the time to breathe and relax before seeking to settle into any of these standing poses and sequences.
Taking a moment before your practice will permit you the opportunity to find a pace that matches what you need from your practice. This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of solo practice – so make the most of it!
With gentle but diligent practice, you’ll find yourself ready to take on Backbend Sequences for Newer Students before you know it. All it takes is care, and a steady growth in understanding what it means to listen to your body. To explore our sequences further, we encourage you to look here.
Discover Standing Poses with the Guidance of Yoga Vastu
Standing poses can be an intimidating transition into intermediate practice for beginner yogis. But with some patience and guidance, we’re confident that you’ll be enjoying the benefits of standing asanas in no time.
If you haven’t signed up already, we have a 14 Day Free Trial available to new sign-ups. Just the right length of time to explore some of our videos and get a taste for what it means to practice Iyengar yoga at home. If you have any questions, please feel free to Get in Touch.
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