Watch: Sitting to Standing with Blocks

In my yoga for athletes class, we’ve been working on the transition to standing from a sitting position, without crossing the legs, pushing the hands to the floor, or using much momentum. It builds core strength and fosters our sense of where we are in space. This deceptively difficult move is frustrating to a lot of us, though some students lift right up with ease. For me, it’s a daily challenge; sometimes I’ve got it, sometimes I don’t. And yesterday, it just wasn’t happening for me. In frustration, I walked away and took some deep breaths. Considering how I’d work with a student who was having a hard time with the move, I realized that props are the answer. Here’s how to work your way up (or down) to it. (Note: looks like we’ve got a mic issue; the sound isn’t great. I’m sorry.)