Padangustasana - Toe stand - For beginners

It is handy that your hands should begin the Toe Stand in a praying position. Because if you've looked at what comes next - first you will pray your knee will not break and then that you won't fall over onto your nose and become disfigured. Believe me, the praying is unnecessary. The Toe Stand is really the Lion Who Could Not Roar. It only looks fierce.

You haven't really been asked to dive fifty feet into a half-filled tea cup, you know. Don't scare. Nothing will break. You have warmed up to this exercise, and gaining balance is probably your biggest problem here.

Once you have conquered your fear and become accustomed to sinking down using your hands for support, try to go all the way down without touching the hands to the floor. Your goal is to keep your hands in the praying position throughout.

The straighter the spine and the more parallel the crossed leg is with the floor, the better your balance will be. Also vital is concentration on that one spot in front of you. Balance in the Toe Stand is really only a matter of patience and concentration. Waving your arms as though you were directing traffic can be helpful in finding balance. Also, learn to use the toes of your balancing foot just like fingers to grip the floor and help you keep your balance.

If the method just described hasn't worked for you after a few weeks, you can still practice the Toe Stand. Squat down, put one foot up on your thigh, and proceed to try for balance, first using both hands and then only one until you feel solidly set

To bolster confidence in the strength of the knees, go back up to the standing position on one leg, foot still on thigh, by putting your hands on the floor, weight well forward, then rear your buttocks up and backward and push the standing leg back, locking the knee. Gradually, you gain confidence, balance, and strength.'

Benefits

The Toe Stand develops psychological and mental powers - especially patience. Physically, it helps to cure gout and rheumatism of the knees, ankles and feet. It also helps cure hemorrhoid problems.

Read more about this poses benefits, pictures, video and tips from HERE

Drawings and info from "Bikram´s Beginning Yoga Class " Book, 1978.