Yoga doesn’t have to be passive! Sure, it’s a great way to relax and clear your mind, but you can also tone and condition your body while doing so. Chair pose iss a simple pose to get into, but it requires stamina and strength to stay in it.

Steps

1. Starting in mountain pose, raise your arms above your head.
2. Keep your arms by your ears and slowly sit back as if you were attempting to sit down into a chair
3. Keep your arms straight and close to your head, keep your back straight and exhale as you sink deeper into the pose.

That’s it! It’s much more difficult than it sounds, which is why many instructors and practitioners choose not to spend too much time in this pose, but doing so can be beneficial to your strength building routine!

Comments

If remaining in and deepening this pose is too difficult at first, incorporate it as part of your sun salutation. Coming out of it, go into the gentle backbend of the salutation, then sweep into the forward fold. Follow the rest of the sun salutation from there, integrating chair pose for a variation that is slightly more challenging!