Bringing Strength and Stability to Your Flow Practice Using Supports in Half-Plank and Upward Facing Dog

Sun Salutations are an element of many yoga classes, and show up in some form in most of the classes I teach at the Ease Mountain Yoga studio. The transition between half-plank and upward facing dog can be tricky until there is enough strength and stability in your shoulders, core, and legs to move through it smoothly and without putting your shoulders at risk.

In this video, I demonstrate the use of props to support yourself in order to embody the posture and find your aligned form. The shoulder and elbows stay level in half-plank, to avoid too much downard pressure on your rotator cuff. During the transition to upward facing dog, the thighs do not touch the mat - the only 4 points of contact are your hands and the tops of your feet.  The support can help you glide through this transition, getting the benefit of the posture without all the strain.