Art & Om is our weekly collaborative project with Karma Yoga Denton. We will explore Denton's art scene and also give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to master new yoga poses. We want to encourage you to get out and support the local arts, with a little flexibility. 

Position: Warrior 1 through Full Eagle Pose
Mural: Mural outside of Recycled Books

Taking it into Eagle Pose today on Art and Om! A great way to transition into Eagle is by beginning in Warrior 1, this allows you to focus on creating the wrap with the arms, and coordinating the placement with the front foot. Jeanna starts off in Warrior 1 on the left side, so her left foot is in front.

Bring the arms out wide like wings, and then sweep the left bicep under the right bicep. You can bring the backs of the hands to touch, or find a full wrap by bringing the palms to touch. Jeanna is showing an additional variation, by meeting in the middle between the other two placements, and bringing the pinky and thumb of opposite hands to interlace, while staggering the height of the hands. Get the most out of this shoulder stretch by drawing the elbows to be the same level as the shoulders, and sending the fingertips away from the face. This allows the shoulders blades to really broaden across the back, and get a stretch on the outside of the shoulders as well.

Begin to shift your weight to the front foot. Rooting down through the heel, and even keeping a micro bend in that knee if it helps you maintain some stability. Launching off from the back foot and bringing it forward. The knee should be bent, in line with the hips, and the foot flexed. This is also a nice balance challenge, so really fire up that core and draw the shoulders over the hips.

To come into the full expression of Eagle, begin to place that right thigh on top of the left and either bring the right toes to touch the ground like a little kickstand, or wrap the top of the right foot behind the left calf. Sinking the tailbone down and back, like you are coming into chair pose while you continue to reach up through those finger tips and engage the core. Another added challenge would be to crunch in, drawing the elbows to the knees, this is a personal favorite and is called Baby Eagle pose. 

For more from Karma Yoga Denton, check them out at the Denton Community Market every Saturday from 8am - 1pm, at the Crafty for a Cause event next Saturday, a Juice Crawl at the end of the month, or at their popsicle social on Memorial Day.