Disclaimers: Consult a doctor before beginning an exercise regime. Never force a pose.  Stop if you feel pain or intense discomfort.  Yoga is meant to be yummy.

I love vinyasa yoga and I am obsessed with good alignment.  This obsession doesn’t stem from a need for perfection, which would be very “un-yoga-like” of me, but from a passion for protecting the body from injury.  Most bodies can safely practice yoga on a daily basis, but maintaining sound alignment is essential to your physical wellbeing.  In this series, I will break down some common poses—explaining how to stay safe and fully enjoy each posture.  Finally, remember to BREATHE consistently while practicing yoga to receive the full benefits of the practice … otherwise, you’re just stretching in Sanskrit.  Today’s pose is Fire Log Pose, or Agnistambhasana.

• Start in a gentle cross-legged sitting pose.

• The lower half of your legs will stack like fire logs in this position (hence the name of the pose).

• Take the left leg and rest it on top of the right leg. Flex both feet to protect the knees.

• If your left knee doesn’t quite reach your right foot, use a blanket to support the knee.

• Sit up tall stretching through the spine, and then fold forward. Again, if your left knee isn’t quite reaching your right foot comfortably, bend towards that knee.  If you are warm enough in the body, you can stretch straight out in front of you.

• Release any unnecessary tension in your neck and face.

• After you are done, try the pose on the other side to even out the body.

• This pose is a great alternative to resting half-pigeon—both give the glutes a nice stretch.

Practicing yoga on your own can be a ton of fun, but taking a class is a great way to explore new poses under the tutelage of a trained yoga instructor; check out MINT’s yoga offerings, here.