Standing Hand To Big Toe

Begin in Mountain Pose and shift your weight firmly into your left foot, hugging the standing-leg thigh muscle upward for stability; stand near a wall for support if you like.

Bend your right knee toward your chest, then hook your first two fingers around your right big toe, or loop a strap around the ball of the foot if the hamstring is tight.

Slowly extend the right leg forward and up, keeping both hips level and squared to the front so you do not let the lifted hip hike up or jam.

Keep a slight micro-bend in the standing knee, lengthen your tailbone down, and lift through the chest to protect the lower back as you breathe steadily.

Hold for 5 breaths with a tall spine, then bend the knee back in, release the foot with control, and lower it down before repeating on the second side.