Exploring Dancer's Pose (Natarajasana)

Duration: 42 minutes

Emphasis: Dancer Pose is a challenging one. It requires you to do a strong backbend with open shoulders whilst standing on one leg. I cannot imagine a time when I will be able to do the full pose - arms over the head holding my foot! - but there are ways to practise and progress this pose to make it more comfortable and accessible. If you're curious to try this pose, join me for this tutorial where we'll prepare with Sun Salutations and poses that stretch the shoulders and front of hips and thighs, and progress the backbends before taking some different variations of Dancer's Pose. You can stop off at any variation that suits you best and please note that this is a pose that requires much practice - don't expect to just be able to do it straight away. As you'll see from the final variation I am far from being able to hold my foot but the strap enables me to do my best version that I can at this moment.

Props needed: A strap with a loop in it, a blanket, some wall space.

Mat direction: Short edge of the mat facing the screen will work best I think.