Standing yoga poses invigorate your body, enforce proper posture and create the foundation for all other poses. Yoga-Health.info reports that standing poses can have a positive affect on your nervous system and can help you master equilibrium throughout your body. Standing poses are particularly beneficial for letting you realign, open and strengthen your hips.
Crescent Moon Pose
Crescent Moon Pose aligns and opens your hips while strengthening your legs, core and back, according to ABC-of-Yoga.com. Stand at the top of your mat and step your left leg about 2 feet behind you. Your back heel should be raised with your weight on the ball of your foot and leg straight. Bend your front leg so that your thigh is parallel to the floor. Make sure that your knee is in line with your ankle and not protruding in front of your toes. This pose forces you to align your hips in order to balance properly. Make sure your hips are even and facing forward. Point your tailbone toward the floor so that your pelvis is straight and in line with your hips. Hold for five breaths.
Warrior I
Warrior I aligns and strengthens your hips and legs, core, back and shoulders. "Yoga Journal" says to start this pose by standing up straight at the top of your mat. Step your left leg back about 3.5 to 4 feet. At the same time, raise your arms to be parallel with your ears. Keep your shoulders pressing down your back. Your back foot should be turned out to the left at a 90-degree angle. Bend your front leg until your thigh is parallel to the floor, and your knee is in line with your ankle. Square the hips to the best of your ability to the front of your mat; usually to achieve this, you will need to move your left hip a little forward and your right hip a little back. Hold for five breaths.
Warrior II
Warrior II is a pose that elicits strength and aligns the hips. It will also strengthen your legs, core, back, shoulders and arms. "Yoga Journal" says to start this pose by standing up straight at the top of your mat. Step your left leg back about 3.5 to 4 feet. Your back foot should be turned out to the left at a 90-degree angle and in Warrior II you want to make sure that your front and back heel are in line with each other. Bend your front leg until your thigh is parallel to the floor and your knee is in line with your ankle. Raise your arms to shoulder height and stretch the right arm in front of you and the left behind you. Your torso should be straight over your pelvis, not leaning forward or back. Your gaze should be over your right fingers. Hold for five breaths.
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