The Pose Guide

A calm, precise reference for your practice

Sixteen foundational poses across four categories — standing, seated, balance, and restorative — each with alignment notes and the benefits you can expect.

Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

Standing · Beginner

Mountain Pose

Tadasana

The foundation of every standing pose — stand tall with feet grounded, spine long, and shoulders relaxed away from the ears.

  • Improves posture
  • Strengthens legs and core
  • Calms and centers the mind
Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

Standing · Intermediate

Warrior II

Virabhadrasana II

A powerful lunge with arms extended parallel to the floor, gaze soft over the front hand — strength and steadiness in equal measure.

  • Builds leg strength
  • Opens hips and chest
  • Improves stamina and focus

Standing · Intermediate

Triangle Pose

Trikonasana

A wide-legged side stretch with one hand reaching toward the shin or floor and the other extending toward the sky.

  • Stretches hamstrings and hips
  • Strengthens legs
  • Improves spinal mobility and relieves stress
Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Standing · Beginner

Downward-Facing Dog

Adho Mukha Svanasana

An inverted V-shape that lengthens the spine while grounding through the hands and feet — a resting pose that still energizes.

  • Lengthens the spine
  • Stretches shoulders and hamstrings
  • Energizes the body
Easy Pose (Sukhasana)

Seated · Beginner

Easy Pose

Sukhasana

A simple cross-legged seat with a long spine and relaxed hands — the resting home base for breathwork and meditation.

  • Calms the nervous system
  • Opens the hips
  • Supports breath awareness
Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)

Seated · Intermediate

Seated Forward Fold

Paschimottanasana

Legs extended long, hinging gently forward from the hips to fold over the legs — a quiet, introspective stretch.

  • Stretches the entire back body
  • Soothes the mind
  • Aids digestion

Seated · Beginner

Bound Angle Pose

Baddha Konasana

Soles of the feet pressed together, knees relaxing out to the sides — often called Butterfly Pose.

  • Opens hips and groin
  • Improves circulation
  • Gently relieves fatigue

Seated · Intermediate

Seated Spinal Twist

Ardha Matsyendrasana

A rotational stretch through the seated spine, one hand grounding behind, the other guiding the twist across a bent knee.

  • Improves spinal mobility
  • Stimulates digestion
  • Relieves lower-back tension

Balance · Beginner-Intermediate

Tree Pose

Vrksasana

Standing on one leg with the sole of the other foot resting on the inner thigh or calf, hands at heart center.

  • Strengthens ankles and legs
  • Improves concentration and balance

Balance · Intermediate

Eagle Pose

Garudasana

Arms and legs wrap around one another while balancing on one foot — a pose of focus as much as flexibility.

  • Strengthens legs
  • Improves focus
  • Releases tension in shoulders and upper back

Balance · Advanced

Half Moon Pose

Ardha Chandrasana

One leg extends parallel to the floor while the torso opens toward the sky, balanced on a single grounded hand and foot.

  • Strengthens core and legs
  • Improves coordination
  • Opens the chest
Crow Pose (Bakasana)

Balance · Advanced

Crow Pose

Bakasana

An arm balance with the knees resting on the upper arms and the feet lifted off the floor — strength, focus, and a little courage.

  • Builds arm and core strength
  • Sharpens focus
  • Builds confidence

Restorative · Beginner

Child's Pose

Balasana

Kneeling with the hips resting back toward the heels and the forehead lowered to the mat — a gentle, grounding rest.

  • Gently stretches hips and back
  • Calms the nervous system
  • Relieves stress

Restorative · Beginner

Legs-Up-the-Wall

Viparita Karani

Lying on the back with the legs extended vertically up a wall — deeply calming and gently restorative for tired legs.

  • Relieves tired legs
  • Supports circulation
  • Deeply calming

Restorative · Beginner

Reclining Bound Angle Pose

Supta Baddha Konasana

A reclined variation of Bound Angle Pose, soles of the feet together and knees relaxed open, supported and unhurried.

  • Opens the hips
  • Relaxes the body
  • Supports restful breathing
Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Restorative · Beginner

Corpse Pose

Savasana

Lying flat on the back, arms and legs relaxed slightly apart — the final integration at the close of every practice.

  • Full-body relaxation
  • Integrates the practice
  • Lowers the stress response

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