Tadasana (mountain pose)

Tadasana (mountain pose)

To do this pose:

Come to stand at the front of your mat. Rock back and forth on your feet and ground into all four corners- your heel, your big toe, and your pinky toe equally. Feet can be as far apart or as close together as is comfortable for you, but hips width is a good place to start if you aren’t sure. Roll your shoulders down and back to open up your chest and relax your arms by your side. Turn your hands so your palms face forward, accepting all that comes your way. Relax your head so that your chin is parallel with your ground and pull the back of your head back in space. Close your eyes and breath.

How this pose is especially beneficial for nurses: 

• It boosts your self esteem! Amy Cuddy did a Ted Talk years ago where she explained that standing like a “superhero” boosts your confidence levels! Tadasana is the yoga version of a superhero stance so when you’re feeling down, scared, or insecure in yourself or your nursing practice, stand in Tadasana for five breaths and build that confidence back up to the top! 
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• It improves balance. Standing still with your eyes closed is harder than it sounds so the more you practice it, the better you get at it! 
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• It relieves back pain caused by sciatica. This stance is the natural stance for your spine. Most patients with sciatica don’t like sitting down and feel like they have to stand up! Tadasana takes pressure off the sciatic nerve and relieves back pain. So when you’re feeling those pains, let your back and spine relax into its neutral position in Tadasana! 
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• It is a meditative pose and brings balance into your body and mind. So at the end of a long day, or when you’re feeling like you’re not enough, come into Tadasana, breathe and let yourself BE.