For GARUDASANA – EAGLE pose, begin in Mountain Pose. Slightly bend the knees. From that standing, knee bent position on your mat (or on the beach 🙂 lift your right leg in front of you. Now move your right leg over your left leg just above the knee. Then wrap the right leg around your left leg, hooking your right foot behind your left calf, if you can. Put your arms out in front of you. Cross the right arm over the left arm. Now, pull the left hand toward your face and around the right arm. After that, bring the palms together in front of your face. You can play with raising and lowering your arms as well as bending and straightening the knee, for a greater challenge. Hold for about 6 to 12 breaths and repeat on the other side.
Benefits:
This posture strengthens arms, legs, knees and ankles, and opens shoulder joints, creating space between the shoulder blades.
It also open hips, with a very deep stretch. Eagle stretches the IT band, increases circulation to all joints, improves digestion and elimination, improves balance, and increases focus. While in this pose you also open the back of the lungs, increasing capacity and ability to breathe deeply.
