“Stand straight, do not slouch.” Music to the ears, right? I am sure most of us have had the privilege of hearing similar words of wisdom from our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles and so on — the list is endless. Jokes apart, truth be told, they could not have given us a better advice even though these preachings’ seemed annoying at that time.
A good standing posture is very good for the body on both physical and mental levels. Tadasana or mountain pose is a basic standing yoga pose which forms the basis for all the other standing asanas or poses. Tada means mountain and asana means posture in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. The mountain pose may look very simple, but it is a very powerful pose. When you perform Tadasana with a good technique, your back becomes straight and aligned, which means your back bones or vertebrae are neatly stacked vertically in a straight line along your spine from head down to your toes. A good body posture improves spine health alleviating most of your back issues. It also strengthens all the major muscle groups, like the thighs, buttocks, and leg muscles, while simultaneously improving your joint health. Moreover, it balances your weight evenly, thus providing you with stability and flexibility. This in turn prevents pain, stiffness, and related injury in your joints like osteoarthritis.
Tadasana also helps develop a stronger mind-body connection. Standing tall and upright helps to cultivate a sense of being rooted in the present moment — this encourages focus and mental clarity bringing your mind a sense of inner peace. This rejuvenation of the mind, body, and soul increases your overall energy levels — both of which boost confidence and self-esteem.
The moment you get up every morning, remind yourself to stand tall in Tadasana. Regular practice will become such a habit that it will soon be ingrained in your hard drive and standing upright will come naturally. So, follow the easy steps below, and see it make a huge difference in your life.
1) Stand with your chest out, back straight, and relaxed. Your feet should be slightly apart and firmly on the ground. Your hands should be resting loosely on your sides.
2) Make sure both your shoulders are relaxed and leveled in a straight horizontal line. Your weight should be balanced equally on both your feet.
3) Always look straight ahead. This allows you to keep your head and neck upright, and it helps you relax all the muscles in those parts.
4) Please use a wall to practice Tadasana to get your alignment right if you have back issues.
Easy-peasy, right? Remember to make this grounding asana (Posture) a part of your daily routine. You will be set for life!