February 2023 Studio Focus: UTKATASANA (Chair / Fierce Pose)

Welcome, February! Each month at Ocean Bliss Yoga Studio we have one or two studio focuses to help bring awareness to different areas of our life. This month, our focuses are AHIMSA (non-violence) and UTKATASANA (Chair / Fierce Pose). Read on in this blog post to discover more about UTKATASANA!

* * *

Commonly known as Chair Pose, UTKATASANA can be translated from Sanskrit to mean,'fierce seat.'  Practicing this pose increases power (physical and mental), and builds heat.  It is an exercise of determination, dedication, and endurance.  UTKATASANA requires strength and stamina, along with calm, mental focus, and breath control.  Finding the right body alignment and distribution of weight in the pose can take dedication.  Performed correctly, this pose seats you in your center making you feel very grounded, embodied, and stabilized.  Proper alignment in UTKATASANA creates an open channel for the high vibrational energy that you are to flow through, giving you greater vitality and vibrance.  When you give up resisting and surrender into the pose, it can be very inspiring and eye-opening.  Practicing UTKATASANA helps us realize that we are capable of so much more than our mind can see.

This standing balance pose targets the lower body and trunk.  It strengthens the ankles, legs, core, and back, while stretching open the chest and shoulders.  UTKATASANA improves strength, balance, and flexibility.  It benefits cardiovascular health and improves mood and wellbeing.

Join us this month in the studio as we break down CHAIR POSE.  Learn about alignment, as well as the many variations and modifications that this pose has to offer!