High Lunge

Yoga 101 – The High Lunge

The primary benefits of the high lunge include opening the chest and hips, stretching the legs and groin, as well as lengthening the spine, which overall strengthens the lower part of the body. This pose is perfect for beginners who are looking for an easy to follow act. As a result, this works well with its therapeutic applications, including providing relief for constipation, indigestion, as well as sciatica.

How to Do the High Lunge

The basic starting pose for the high lunge is the table pose. Then, you may start by stepping on your right foot forward in between your two hands and your knee positioned directly above your ankle. Tuck the back of your toes underneath while straightening your back leg. Your palms, fists or fingers should be carefully pressed to the floor, lifting the crown of your head pointing to the ceiling.

Afterwards, you can lower your shoulders down and then back while pressing your chest forward. Keep looking straight forward with your chin positioned in a way that it is parallel to the floor. Stretch your back leg; this is done by pressing your help to the floor and pressing the back of your knees up the ceiling. While doing so, your hips should be in a relaxed position while allowing them to sink to the floor.

In this position, you can breathe in and start holding your breath for about 2-6 breaths. In order to release yourself from this position, you may lower your left knee down while sliding your right knee, again, into the Table position. You may also step your right foot back to the downward facing dog pose. You can repeat the same process on the other side of your body.

Things to Remember

While there are benefits to the high lunge pose, such as strengthening your groin area, as well as your arms and legs, there are also things that you need to take into consideration, the contraindications. This includes a chronic or recent injury on your hips or legs. This simply means that if you have had this type of injury recently, it may be best to stay away from this pose until you fully recover.

While you can follow the procedure stated above step by step, you may also alter the process by introducing the use of yoga blocks that you can place under your hands. At the same time, if you feel that high lunge is a bit complicated, you may opt to try the low lunge and eventually work your way up once you feel comfortable completing the easier type of lunge. In this way, you are not shocking your body to trying something that might be difficult to perform.