Vinyala

Pose sheet

Warrior III

Vīrabhadrāsana IIIवीरभद्रासन III

Balance on one foot, with arms, torso, and lifted leg aligned horizontally.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

The sole of one foot; hands unsupported.

Enter

  1. From Warrior I, shift your weight toward your right foot.
  2. Keep your arms raised; join your palms without interlacing fingers.
  3. Hinge at your hip and lift your left leg behind you.
  4. Straighten your standing leg and flex your lifted foot.
  5. Align your arms, torso, and lifted leg parallel to the floor.

Hold

  1. Straighten both knees without pushing your standing knee backward.
  2. Level your pelvis; face both hip points toward the floor.
  3. Reach your hands forward and your lifted foot back.
  4. Bring your arms beside your ears; flex your lifted foot.

Exit

  1. Bend your standing knee and return to Warrior I.
  2. Bring your feet together and lower your arms in Mountain.
  3. Repeat with your left leg supporting you.
Breathing
Keep breathing throughout the hold.
Gaze
Gaze at the floor ahead of you.
Duration
Five breaths per side.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • ChairRest your hands on the seat or backrest.
  • WallRest your hands on the wall in front of you.
  • BlocksPlace a block beneath each hand; adjust their height.
  • Lower legLower your lifted leg and slightly bend your standing knee.

Variations

  • Tulādaṇḍāsana: interlaced fingers and pointed lifted foot.
  • Arms extended sideways.
  • Arms reaching back alongside your torso.

Signals of effort

  • Balancing on a single foot.
  • Torso and lifted leg held horizontally against gravity.
  • Arms extended beside your ears.