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Tolasana
(Scale Pose)

How to perform Scale Pose

Sit in Padmasana. Place your hands by your side, shift your weight forward slightly, and lift yourself up into balance. Repeat changing the cross of your legs.

What is Tolasana?

Also known as Scale Pose, Tolasana is a hand-balancing pose named after the shape of a balancing scale. It is a compact pose, in which the legs are kept in place through intense binding: just like in Padmasana, the feet are positioned in the creases of the thighs. The shoulders stay broad and active and your spine stays long as you push yourself forward and up into balance on your hands.

When to use Tolasana?

Tolasana requires a fair bit of preparation before it can be performed. The main challenge is to get your legs into the Padmasana position, which, for many, can be quite hard on the knees. Once that is achieved, however, this balance can be attempted by students of practically any level, as long as no injuries or specific conditions are preventing them from supporting weight on their hands and arms.

The compact and steady nature of the legs in this pose reduces the challenge of the balance as you do not need to draw extra focus to keeping your legs from twisting or drooping excessively.

Once you are ready, Tolasana will come nicely in any dynamic sequence where you are focusing on toning your arms or strengthening your foundations for more complicated balancing poses.