Eagle Pose = Garundasana or “King of the Birds”

For athletes who spend a lot of the game balancing on one leg, like kicking a soccer ball, or pushing off a dominant foot for a jump shot- Eagle Pose is an excellent pose for you to strengthen the standing leg, while improving balance.

Eagle also targets a tough muscle group between the shoulder blades, that include your Rhomboids and Trapezes, which need to remain flexible especially in sports like tennis, and basketball to take the stress off shoulders.

The benefits of Eagle include:

1.strengthening ankles, calves and adductors (inner thighs)

2.Stretches hips, shoulders and upper back

3. Improves concentration and breath flow under stress

Let’s Play

1. Start at the top of your mat with both feet together and find a point of focus about 5’ in front of you. Get in tune with your breath; slow rhythmic breathing through the nose.
2. Bend your knees and cross your right thigh over the left, balancing on your left foot.
3. Squeeze inner thighs firmly together, and get active in core to increase your balance.
4. Reach your arms out in front of you and cross your right arm over left, bend elbows and bring palms together. If it’s difficult to wrap your arms, hug your shoulders instead.
5. To increase the intensity, sit lower in chair till your thighs are parallel to the floor and reach your fingertips forward. A slight rounding in the back, and you ‘ll really feel the stretch between your shoulder blades.

Have Fun!

Remember to Breathe! It’s only yoga after all, and the more you can keep your sense of humor and come back to the pose if you fall out, the more relaxed and determined you’ll be under pressure; in sports or in life.

Tonja Renee Hall

Lionheart Yoga Training (www.tonjareneehall.com)

Tonja is the Yoga Coach for the Sounders and has conducted classes for Seahawks and members of the Cliff Bar Cycling Team. She is currently in negotiation to teach yoga classes to the Storm and the Rat City Roller Girls, her real claim to fame!!