An Easy Guide to Virabhadrasana 2, or Warrior 2 Yoga Pose
Virabhadrasana 2 is named after Virabhadra, a fierce warrior, who is an incarnation of the Hindu god Shiva.
Virabhadrasana 2 is a heart and hip opener that will stretch the chest, lungs and shoulders, groins, legs and back, and strengthen the ankles and legs.
This yoga pose will also stimulate and tone the abdominal organs.
If you are prone to leg cramp this is a good one to remember - but better to practice regularly as a preventative measure than to try to hobble into it when you're in the middle of an attack.
Watch a clip for this yoga pose
How to do An Easy Guide to Virabhadrasana 2, or Warrior 2Yoga Pose, in easy steps
Step 1:
Stand in Mountain pose (Tadasana).
Step 2:
Inhale and lightly jump the legs 4 feet apart.
Step 3:
Lift the arms to shoulder height, stretch out with the palms facing downwards and the shoulder blades sinking down the back.
Step 4:
Turn your feet to the right, the left foot 45 degrees, the right foot 90 degrees.
Step 5:
On an exhalation, bend the right leg and shin to a right angle and bring the right thigh parallel to the floor.
Step 6:
Press the outer edge of the left foot down, keeping the left leg strong and in line with the hips.
Step 7:
Stretch the arms out to each side, shoulders down, gaze beyond the right palm. Make sure you aren't chasing your right hand.
Step 8:
Root into the feet and lift up through the spine. Draw your abdomen gently in and up.
Step 9:
Stay for 5 to 10 breaths, breathe evenly.
Step 10:
To come out of the pose, press into your feet and straighten your right leg on an inhalation. Release your hands and step forward back to the front of the mat.
Step 11:
Repeat on the other side.
Yoga pose category: Standing
Level: 2
This is quite a hard yoga pose for beginners; many yogis will struggle to stay stable in the wide stride. Try narrowing the legs, so that the lunge is not as deep, as this will put less strain on the inner thighs, helping you to focus on your balance.
Sanskrit words meaning:
Virabhadra - warrior created by Lord Shiva
Asana - pose
Yoga pose health benefits:
Like all yoga poses, Virabhadrasana 2 has many health benefits. Use it to help with the following health conditions:
Sciatica
Flat feet
Fatigue
Infertility
Respiratory issues
Back pain
Yoga pose contraindications:
Don’t practice Virabhadrasana 2 if you have any of the following health conditions:
High blood pressure
Heart problems
Neck injury
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Lucy Edge
is a yoga advocate and writer with three yoga books to her name, including the beloved travel memoir Yoga School Dropout. She writes regularly for the national press, has authored over 150 guides to types of yoga and yoga poses, discovered nearly 250 proven health benefits of yoga through her painstaking classification of 300 clinical studies, and collected more than 500 personal testimonials to the real life benefits of yoga. She is also the creator of our yoga shop – YogaClicks.Store – handpicking yoga brands that are beautifully made by yogis committed to environmental and social sustainability.
