Day 8 Utthita Hasta Padangustasana 

Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose

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Utthita Hasta Padangustasana 

(oo-TEE-tah HAHS-tuh pahd-ahng-goosh-TAHS-uh-nuh)

This pose also goes by various English translations: "Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose," "Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose," "Big Toe Hold," "Standing Big Toe Pose,” and others. As you might guess, the big toe of the extended foot

plays a major role in this pose!

 

Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose is an intermediate yoga posture that stretches the backs of your legs while challenging your balance. It is a great preparatory pose for deeper hamstring stretches, such as Standing Split (Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana) and Monkey Pose (Hanumanasana).

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This pose stretches your hamstrings, strengthens your legs and ankles, and improves your balance. It not only builds overall physical strength but also inner confidence! Remember to take it slowly, and be sure to modify the pose as needed. With practice, your flexibility and your ability to balance will improve.

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Here’s how to get into this pose:

Stand tall in Tadasana. Bring your right knee in towards your chest, with your right hand form peace fingers. Grab your big toe with your peace fingers, inhale, and stretch your leg out in front of you, hold and breathe for 5 breaths. When steady swing your right leg to the side and breathe here, balancing for 5 breaths.

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BENEFITS:

• Strengthens the legs and ankles

• Stretches the backs of the legs

• Improves sense of balance