Upward Salute

Urdhva Hastasana

Upward Salute sweeps the arms overhead from Mountain Pose, lengthening the whole front body and often adding a slight backbend. It opens the Sun Salutations on an inhale, lifting the heart toward the sky. Reaching up through the fingertips creates length from the feet to the hands.

Alignment cues

• Sweep the arms overhead on an inhale
• Reach up through the fingertips, biceps by the ears
• Lift the chest and gaze up without crunching the neck

Benefits

• Lengthens the spine and side body
• Opens the shoulders
• Energizes the breath at the start of the vinyasa

Modifications

• Keep arms shoulder-width apart if reaching overhead strains the shoulders
• Soften the gaze upward only if comfortable for the neck