Warrior III – Virabhadrasana III

You can come into Warrior III from Warrior I or II, but for the purposes of this guide, lets begin in Mountain Pose at the front of your mat.

• Keep your feet at hips distance as you step your right foot back about 3-4 feet (it’s ok to keep your back heel lifted for this pose)
• Exhale and bend your left knee so that it floats over your left ankle at a 90 degree angle. To stay in good alignment here, keep your knee in line with your middle toe and your neck in line with your spine
• Bend your torso forward over your left thigh and carefully extend your arms out in front of you in line with your ears, palms facing each other, fingers spread wide like a starfish (Note: If you find that your having difficulty balancing, you can extend your arms out to your sides, like an airplane instead, this may help once you come fully into the pose)
• Find a spot on the floor in front of you to gaze at, keep your focus on that spot as it will help you to stay strong and steady
• Inhale and simultaneously begin to straighten your left leg, lift you torso and bring your right leg up behind you
• Flex your right foot
• Rotate your right leg inward so that your knee and toes point down towards the ground and descend your right hip so its near level with your left
• Think of lengthening your body from the tips of your fingers all the way out through the arch of your right foot
• Remember to keep your neck in line with your spine here. You may need to tip your chin a bit to get the length in your back
• Hold the pose and take a few breaths
• Continue to engage all the muscles in your legs to come out of the pose and slowly lower your back leg down
• Repeat on the other side!