Once again, the strong and brave warrior makes an appearance in our Pose of the Week Series. Although this warrior looks a little different than Warrior 2, he/she continues to inspire courageousness & strength of body and mind!

Aka: Moose, Rhino, Bull, Dragon, Fencing, Sword fight, and soooo many more... Just use your imagination!

    7.   Take several breaths while holding this posture, allowing the hips to sink a little                    lower with each exhale. 

Fun Variations:
All of our variations this week have to do with arm positioning.... change the arms, change the name, voila! New pose. 

1. Moose: Same stance, but bring your thumbs to connect on the sides of your head, fingers spread out wide! Now you have moose antlers and can even explore making some silly moose calls.
2. Rhino: Same stance. this time bring your palms together and connect the heels of your hands onto your nose. There's your rhino horn!
3. Bull: Same stand, same arms, however we will bring the palms in to touch to create our bull horn! Bend forwards from the hips to charge.
4. Dragon: Same stand, but bring your arms out to the side to make dragon wings! Flap them up as you breath in, down as you breath out... then even blow some fire out of your mouth!
5. Fencing/sword fight: Pull out your weapon and battle it out with an imaginary foe or a partner in the class (great for a sports or pirate themed class).
   
   

Benefits:

• Stretches the chest and lungs, shoulders and neck, belly, and groin.
• Strengthens the shoulders and arms, and the muscles of the back.
• Strengthens and stretches the thighs, calves, and ankles.
• Makes your whole body feel strong, makes you brave and fierce like a warrior!

Connections:

• Circus tent/pyramid: Stand directly in front of a partner facing one another, and come into warrior 1 so that you are mirroring each other. Reach arms up, and instead of keeping your palms facing in, turn them forwards to connect with your partner. When you connect, the shape you form with your body is similar to that of a triangle! Imagine the possibilities in name variations with this one! Have fun :)

I truly hope that you are enjoying this pose of the week series! Please comment below with your own ideas or experiences with Warrior 1. Also, be sure to check out our other fun postings for more ideas on how to brighten up your class with fun variations, new names, and partner poses: Warrior 1, Locust Pose, Boat Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Seated Forward Fold, & Chair Pose. 


Stay true friends! Be bright, be bold, be you!


In love,


Vanessa

Strong, brave, and incredibly tough the warrior represents what it means to be resilient & persevere in the face of challenges. Let's join together to inspire courageousness for the children in our lives, to give them more tools to overcome the daily stresses, pressures and roadblocks they face - let's do yoga!

Aka: Surfing, Headless Horseman, Peaceful Warrior, Warrior Pals.

6.   Your shoulders should stay directly over your hips as you begin to bend the front                  knee!
7.   Begin to turn ONLY your head to look towards the top of your mat, leaving your hips          and shoulder as they are. 
8.   Keep your legs strong and engaged by energetically pulling them in towards each              other. 
9.   Take several breaths while holding this posture, allowing the hips to sink lower with            each exhale. 

Fun Variations: 

1. Surfing: We mentioned this variation in our last pose of the week post, Locust - but now you have the instructions! The stance begins entirely the same, however this time we are going to add some movement into the strength of the pose. Imagine that you are on your surf board riding the waves! Move your hips and shoulders forwards and back, while moving your arms in suit. Ride up the wave in a peaceful warrior, or down the wave in a headless horseman variation. 
2. Headless Horseman: Begin in your regular Warrior 2 stance. Now take your hands behind your back & interlace your fingers. Turn your hips slightly forwards, and begin to fold forwards towards the inside of your front leg. Your arms will raise up overhead, let gravity pull them down towards the ground. Now you are a headless horseman or headless warrior.
3. Peaceful Warrior: Keeping your Warrior 2 legs exactly as they are, begin to lean back as you drop your back hand (with palm facing up) down your back leg and your front hand reaches up towards the sky. There is a tendency to straighten the front leg when we lean back, so be sure to keep your bent knee directly over your ankle. 
4. Mini Warrior Series: You can use your breath to guide you through a fun warrior series using some of these variations as well. Start in Warrior 2 as your center position, exhale to Peaceful Warrior, inhale back to center, exhale to Headless Horseman, inhale back to center - do this 3-5 times! Maybe even adding in a funny sound for each pose to add in some extra fun. 
5. Jump and Switch: This is a fun way to make sure you are doing both sides of the body. When you are done taking your 3-5 breaths on one side, say "ready to jump and switch?" Then count down backwards from 3. When you get to 1, jump your back foot forwards and your front foot back. It's a great transition! 

Benefits:

• Strengthens and stretches the legs and ankles.
• Stretches the groins, chest and lungs, shoulders.
• Stimulates abdominal organs.
• Increases stamina.

Connections:

1. Peaceful Warrior Pals: Come into Warrior 2 and have your pal do the same, but facing the opposite direction (your back feet will need to cross a bit instead of being heel to heel). Link your back arms together, and as you exhale and lean back into Peaceful Warrior reach your front hands up to touch your pal's. 
2. Warrior Pals: Come into Warrior 2 and have your pal do the same, but this time you want to be facing towards each other. Your front feet will come side by side, and you will bend your knees until they touch. Bring your back hand behind your back and reach your front hand for your partner's back hand (the one that's wrapping around their back). Help each other twist and open the chest!

If you have any other fun variations or ways to connect in Warrior 2, please share them in the comments below! Also, remember to check out our other Pose of the Week shares! The list is building: Locust Pose, Boat Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Seated Forward Fold, & Chair Pose. 

Wishing you a beautiful weekend, may it be filled with plenty of love, laughs and fun....Maybe even some Warrior 2 fun!

Stay true! Be bright, be bold, be you <3 

In love,

Vanessa