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Chapters (4)

Bharadvajasana ॐ Sage's Twist

YogAscent: Heighten Your Practice · 2:50

In this practice

Key teachings

  • Mindful body awareness and alignment
  • Breath-movement synchronization for deeper twists
  • Spinal lengthening before twisting
  • Heart-centered practice and opening

Ideal for

  • Beginners to intermediate practitioners
  • Individuals seeking gentle spinal mobility
  • Those looking for a calming and restorative practice
  • People aiming to improve posture and release tension

Lesson

Steps

  • Bharadvajasana (Sage's Twist)
  • Seated spinal twisting
  • Mindful breathing (inhale to lengthen, exhale to deepen)
  • Shoulder and neck alignment cues

Benefits

  • Increases spinal mobility and flexibility
  • Releases tension in the back, shoulders, and neck
  • Improves posture and promotes heart opening
  • Stimulates internal organs for gentle detoxification
  • Calms the nervous system

Transcript

let's practice virabhadrasana i suppose you didn't twist so you'll start sitting on your heels and then lift your hips and set them over to the left side just off the heels the knees will sway apart just slightly and perhaps your left foot will rest within the right arch of the foot it doesn't have to be there whatever position you can be in comfortably here your hips are actually a little skewed so here they're bright get this up a little bit higher than the left bring your hands to the floor inhale lift your heart and use forward exhale twist toward the left bring your right hand to the front of the left leg inhale reach up tall through the heart exhale twisting for the left inhale lift and lift both side bodies equally here so here the right hip is lifted so there's a tendency to sort of crunch this right side so lift and lengthen through the right side equally to the left as you exhale and twist deeper and perhaps you can gaze over the left shoulder as long as it doesn't cause pain in your neck inhale come through Center place your hands in front of you and this time we'll sink the hips to the right rest the right foot into the left arch the knees will come apart slightly yes to the floor inhale lift and gaze forward exhale twist toward the right this time move your left hand to the right side inhale lift exhale twist and be mindful of lengthening the left side body equal to the right this time and perhaps on the end of an exhale you gaze over the right shoulder see that the shoulders aren't creeping toward the ears draw them back and down to open the heart imagine that you're leaving this twist from the heart inhale through Center exhale hands to the floor back to sitting on your heels so that was Brad for Josh wound up a simple twist

Practice summary

Level
beginner
Duration
4 minutes
Equipment
yoga mat
Target areas
SpineHipsShouldersNeckCore (obliques)
Energy
balancing

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