None of us has perfect alignment, but your strap is here to help. Put your strap to work for you—it’s cheaper than private yoga lessons! Watch the video on these three hacks to use a strap to improve your alignment, and read below for step-by-step instructions.
Strap Hack: Arm-bound chaturanga
Benefits: Corrects your alignment to keep your shoulders safe
Step 1: Make a loop in the strap the width of your shoulders and place the strap around your upper arms
Step 2: Practice going to plank to chaturanga and back
Step 3: Try not to cry when you feel how hard it is to actually do chaturanga correctly
Strap Hack: Strapped-in handstand at the wall
Benefits: Keeps arms from splaying out, maintains shoulder girdle alignment
Step 1: Make a loop in the strap the width of your shoulders and place the strap around your upper arms
Step 2: Measure a leg’s distance from the wall, place your palms there, and walk your legs up the wall
Step 3: Hold L-shaped handstand walking your feet down the wall so your legs are parallel to the floor and your shoulders are directly over your wrists
Strap Hack: Forearm stand and scorpion
Benefits: Keeps shoulders in alignment, makes it easier to balance
Step 1: Make a loop in the strap the width of your shoulders, tighten it another inch or so, and place the strap around your upper arms
Step 2: Take your forearms to the ground and begin walking your legs in toward your elbows (dolphin dog)
Step 3: Work on kicking one leg up, then the other. Try to balance in forearm stand or bend the knees to come into scorpion. Can also be done against the wall!
What are your favorite ways to enhance your alignment with a strap? Let us know in the comments below.
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Brett teaches vinyasa flow yoga at top San Francisco studios, companies like Google and Pinterest, and on her YouTube channel, where thousands of students have studied with her for over 6 million minutes. Get her free yoga playlists, yoga teacher training tips, and free dance, yoga and meditation classes at BrettLarkin.com. Beginner or intermediate yogis can enjoy her online course on deepening your yoga practice.