Watch

Chapters (10)

How to do Skandasana (Side Lunge) correctly ✅ Any Questions?⬇️ #yogatips #yogaathome

YogaCandi · 0:56

In this practice

Key teachings

  • Correct alignment in Skandasana
  • Listening to your body and pain awareness
  • Active engagement of muscles in poses
  • Mindful hip opening

Ideal for

  • Practitioners wanting to master Skandasana
  • Individuals seeking to improve hip flexibility
  • All levels, with an emphasis on safe practice
  • Those looking for detailed pose breakdowns

Lesson

Instructions

Skandasana - Sanskrit Side lunge pose - English

STEP-BY-STEP on how to do Skandasana / side lunge correctly:

Option to bring your hands off the floor, bringing them to your heart in anjali mudra (prayer gesture). If hands are in Prayer you can use the elbow to push your knee open a little more, getting deeper into the hip stretch/ opener.

You can also take any mudra of your choice.

Hold the pose for several breaths before shifting your weight and flowing to the opposite side.

I hope you enjoyed these tips to help you break down and enjoy skandasana/ side lunge. Let me know if you have any questions 🙏

Namaste, Candace.

Steps

  • Begin standing with a wide stance, toes pointing toward the long side of your mat.
  • Lengthen the spine and broaden across your collarbones by squeezing your shoulder blades back behind you. Turn your left foot to face the top end of your mat.
  • Exhale as you lower down towards the left knee, keeping the spine long.
  • Bend deep into your left knee and allow your hips to follow and shift to the left.
  • Press evenly through the sole of the left foot as you flex your right toes toward the ceiling. The right foot can stay planted parallel to the back of the mat, but that would require very mobile ankles, so choose the option that feels best for you.
  • Keep the right leg straight.
  • Engage your legs actively to safely deepen the stretch.
  • Only go as low as you can in Skandasana, making sure there is no pain in the inside of the right thigh.

Benefits

  • Increases flexibility in hips and groins
  • Strengthens legs and core
  • Improves balance and body awareness
  • Enhances mobility in ankles (with modification)
  • Releases tension in the lower body

Practice summary

Level
all levels
Duration
8 minutes
Equipment
yoga mat
Target areas
hipsinner thighsgroinhamstringsquadricepsankles
Energy
balancing

More practice