Yoga Chikitsa · Primary · Standing Sequence
Padahastasana
Hand-to-foot pose
What it is
Padahastasana is the second pose of the Primary standing sequence, following directly from Padangusthasana.
What it looks like
From the same stance, you slide the palms under the feet so the toes reach toward the wrists, then fold forward. The pose is held for five breaths before you come back up to standing.
Why it is practised
It deepens the forward fold of the previous pose and continues the gentle stretch through the back of the legs. Standing on the hands also gives a clear sense of where the weight is on the feet.
What to pay attention to
Keep the fold coming from the hips, not from rounding the neck. Keep the weight slightly forward so it does not sink into the heels. If the hands do not fit under the feet, hold the shins or ankles and bend the knees.
Who it suits
It suits most people who are comfortable in a standing forward fold. In Mysore-style practice a teacher shows you suitable variations as you learn — you can work on this in private sessions.
Next in the sequence: Utthita Trikonasana.
Hands slide under the feet.
The fold stays in the hips, not the neck.
Practise this Primary pose in a Mysore-style room, or in a private session in Dubai or online.
See session formats, upcoming dates and the shala.