Breakdown of Fallen Angel

Have you ever hit a lull in your yoga practice and needed a new challenge? Or, let’s be honest, have you ever wanted to impress your friends with a freaky looking move? I have just the posture: Fallen Angel. This is one of my personal favorites to teach and practice. There are so many variations and the final posture utilizes strength, flexibility, and balance. Give it a spin!

a. Start in a low squat with hands at heart center in samastiti. Find a strong foundation by deepening the breath, relaxing the shoulders, and creating a tall spine by engaging the core muscles.

b. Keeping core engaged, on the next exhale, twist from the upper body and bring the elbows to hip and knee. Glue the elbows to the leg and spread all ten fingers wide and plant hands on the ground.

c. Make a shelf with the elbows and shift the heart forward, lifting one foot at a time, trying not to dump into the arms. Utilize that core strength!

d. Here’s where it gets tricky. From Side Crow, drop the head to the floor, cheek down. Activate the core to shift the hips skyward. Both knees will be resting on one arm and feet are pointing to the sky.

e. Final step. Lengthen one leg, engage both feet to straighten the legs and TADAH you did it!

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