Compass Pose
SANSKRIT: Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana (par-ee-vrt-TAH sir-yah yahn-TRAHS-anah)
DESCRIPTION: Keeping the left leg bent and grounded into the mat, place your right hand down in front of your left shin. Bring your right knee up toward your chest, and attempt to draw your right shoulder under the crease of the knee. Aim to bring the knee as high as possible on the shoulder. Take the left hand and reach for the outer edge of the right foot. Inhale and begin to extend your right knee while simultaneously drawing the left arm behind your head. Ground down into your sitting bones as you exhale. Hold this pose for up to 10 slow breaths. Use your inhales to lengthen the spine and exhales to deepen the stretch. To exit Compass pose, inhale and lengthen your spine. Then exhale, release the foot, and bend the right knee to slowly dissolve out of the posture. Repeat on the opposite side.
BENEFITS: Stretches spinal side flexors, hamstrings, and groin. Opens the sides of the ribcage, shoulders, and tissues of the lung meridian. Lengthens the latissimus dorsi muscle along the sides of the ribcage. Strengthens the hip flexors and core