The Triangle pose is an excellent asana to improve flexibility, stability, strength, and balance. The Triangle, or Trikonasana, pose is perfect after a long day of standing or exercise. This pose will relieve sore and swollen feet, relieve tightened hamstrings, and leave your legs feeling powerful.

The Triangle pose strives to instill the three basic tenets of HathaYoga in students. Practitioners of the Triangle pose will be rewarded with stability, expansion, and evenness. Once you realize the benefits of this pose you will be hooked.

How to Do The Triangle Pose

A standard Triangle pose is based on stride. It is important to find a slow, stead, and pleasing stride.

• Stand with feet four feet apart. Place your right foot so it is turned toward the top of your yoga mat. Your right heel should be at a ninety-degree angle to your left heel.
• Turn your left heel in approximately 15 degrees and bend your front knee. Take a look – your front thigh needs to be almost parallel to the mat.

This is your foundation for the Triangle pose. You may need to make adjustments in your stance to make it more comfortable and you may have to work up to a four-foot stance. After you feel confident in your foundation you can begin the Triangle pose.

• Place a block, (or book), against the outside of your right foot.
• Move arm to a “T” position Feel your muscles and ligaments extending from your core, along your arms and legs, and to your fingers and toes. You should feel your body stretch taller as your crown reaches upward.
• Inhale and raise your right hip and bring your left hand to your hip. Your head should be turned to your right.
• Exhale and bend to the right. Reach toward the block and balance your bend with your hand.

To complete the pose you will continue to breathe and work backward through the motions. Reset your body and complete the same motions stretching your other side.

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The Triangle pose may appear to be complicated but the movements flow as you move from one position to another. As you continue to practice the pose you will find that you are able to extend your body more and will eventually not need the prop.

The Triangle pose offers students the benefits of Iyengar yoga by using a prop – the book. It gives you the benefits of Vinyasa yoga by implementing breathing techniques. Combining both forms of yoga into one fluid pose will give you strength and an incredible sense of wellbeing.