Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute/ hands up )

Standing at the top of my mat, inhaling and raising my arms. Urdhva Hastasana....Ahhhhhhhhhh........*And that’s exactly how I felt. Standing up and reaching the arms overhead awakens the body from toes to fingertips, providing a boost of energy. It’s a simple way to feel rejuvenated..really ... opens the shoulders, chest, abdomen, and hip flexors...!!

Urdhva hastasana is another key posture in the surya namaskar, or Sun Salutation, sequence. It is the quintessential sun salutation, as the arms and heart literally reach toward the sky.

How to Practice Urdhva Hastasana /Upward Salute

1) Start in Tadasana yoga posture ( Tadasana is the keystone of the standing postures)

2) With an inhale, move your arms downward from Namaste position and then sweep them out to the sides and up toward the sky/ceiling. You can finish with your arms parallel above your head (palms facing each other) or when your shoulders allow, your palms can be pressed together.

3) Fully extend your elbows and reach up through your fingertips.

4) With your neck still being an extension of your spine, bring your upper chest towards the sky/ceiling and bend your back slightly (the bend comes from your middle/upper back, not your neck). Be careful not to over-arch your lower back or compress your neck!

5) Stay in this yoga posture for a couple of breaths.