Do you want to tone your body without even moving your limbs? If that is what you have been looking for, you should practice the Chair pose. Also known as Utkatasana, the Chair pose is one of the best standing yoga poses that require minimal body movement.
Before exploring basic steps to practice the Chair pose, let’s first understand it in brief. Later, read the benefits of practicing the Chair pose. Roll on.
Utkatasana came from the Sanskrit language. It can be divided into two parts, ‘Utkata’ & ‘asana’. Hence, the former word is translated as ‘powerful’ or ‘fierce’ whereas the latter means ‘pose’.
Therefore, the Chair pose means a powerful pose of yoga to work on a particular set of muscles of your body. The major targeted muscles are thighs, knees, joints in the feet, and hip joints & muscles. It helps in building muscle strength along with improving the mobility of your joints.
Let’s have a brief look at some basic steps that you can consider to practice the Chair pose perfectly. Moreover, following these steps is going to ensure you stay safe from any sort of injury.
Sitting continuously on a chair is going to put your knees at risk. It might be comfortable, however, the constant bending reduces its range of motion and mobility. Therefore, when you practice the Chair pose, your knees’ release fluids.
These fluids nourish your knees so that they can move smoothly and without incurring any pain. Moreover, the fluids released ensures the supporting muscles in the knees get a proper blood supply. Hence, it is one of the best poses to keep your knees healthy.
When you sit or stand for too long, your hamstring muscles shrink. Hence, it leads to sciatica or other nerve issues. Moreover, a decrease in the hamstring length results in less flexibility and mobility of your body. Practicing the Chair pose makes your hamstring muscles strong.
Also, holding your body on your thighs is going to sore out the muscles. Hence, when you rest, the muscles fibers grow stronger that powers your body. In turn, you get strong leg muscles when you practice the Chair pose.
Almost every person takes their feet for granted, especially the ankle joints. If you are not utilizing the joints or muscles present in your feet, they will lose their strength over time. Further, it is going to impact your walking and overall body posture.
Practicing the Chair pose works on the smaller joints and muscles present in the feet. Hence, they ensure that your weight is equally balanced over your feet. In turn, you become more conscious of where the weight of your body is more on your feet.
Balance is of utmost importance when it comes to having a perfect body and mind. Sometimes, sitting or standing in a tilted position for a longer time misaligns your muscles. It could lead to improper muscle development.
The Chair pose ensures you learn how to balance your body on both feet. Your feet grow evenly to properly support your body.
Also Read: Cat Cow Pose
Wrap Up
The Chair pose is one of the best poses of yoga that helps in finding a balanced and easiest approach to yoga practice. Moreover, there is minimal movement in this pose that makes it perfect for everyone. Ensure that you include it in your routine to have long-lasting benefits.
Read more: Camel Pose and Bow Pose