Tadasana

This to me, is one of the hardest yoga poses. Yes, more difficult than putting your foot behind your head!
It appears as though you're just standing around, but remember, yoga is what you can't see! It requires a lot of focus, and attention to bring your whole body, mind and spirit into this position, known in English as "Mountain Pose".
I always tell new yoga teachers to teach from Tadasana. 

Here's how to do it:

• Stand with your feet about hip width distance apart
  
• Feel all corners of your feet pressing evenly into the ground
• Engage the muscles in your legs, keeping a slight bend to your knees
• Lengthen the sides of your waist, growing even taller
• Roll your shoulders back, allowing your shoulder blades to draw down your spine
• Muscles in the arms are awake, there is energy shooting through each fingertip
  
• Broaden across your collarbones and relax your shoulders
  
• Bring your chin parallel to the ground and your ears over your shoulders
• Lengthen even more through the crown of your head
• Now bring your attention to your breath, inhaling from your feet all the way to the top of your head and exhaling from the top of your head down to your feet
  

In this pose, you will appear confident. This is the secret to Tadasana, even if you're not necessarily feeling confident, standing in Tadasana, with your feet firmly rooted into the ground, your chest forward and your breath strong, you will hold the space in the room. The more you practice this pose, the more you will bring out that genuine self confidence that's inside.

Whether you're a new yoga teacher, someone ready to give a presentation or walking into your boss's office to ask for a raise, remember Tadasana!

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