Virabhadrasana III

Vira: hero, bhadra: auspicious, asana:pose

Vīrabhadra, a powerful hero created by Shiva from a clump of his hair

Commonly know as Warrior 3, this balance represents the arrow fired by the warrior (1) via his bow, (2).

We approach this posture as the arrow being fired into the air and only slowly lowering towards the horizontal if able to do so with poise, balance, control and steady breathing. Keeping a straight(ish) line, (like an arrow) through the arms, torso and raised leg is the aim, rather than getting to the horizontal with the torso. The standing leg should not be locked out, but slightly bent to keep the thigh active, helping with balance. The head should stay in line, so gaze moves down as body drops forwards. It’s as if you are taking the feeling of the back arch from warrior 1 into this posture, which is why it’s great to approach it from warrior 1. A great posture to challenge balance, practice patience, improve concentration and strengthen the legs.

Great to practice with or without the arms, click on the right of the pictures to scroll through