THOUGH IT SOUNDS impressive in Sanskrit, Urdhva
Prasarita Padasana rendered in English becomes the
decidedly clunky “Raised Stretched-Out Foot Pose.”
The name is much ado about a fairly simple exercise that
has deep benefits—but most teachers save the syllables
and just call it by its initials. UPP involves nothing more
than lying on your back and swinging your extended legs
through a slightly less than 90-degree arc, from perpen-
dicular to the floor to nearly—but not quite—parallel,
and back again. And again.
In Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says that UPP is “won-
derful for reducing fat round the abdomen, strengthens
the lumbar region of the back, and tones the abdominal
organs.” What’s not to like about that?SOFTEN FACE AND THROATFa b
Abs
Strengthen your
core and improve
your posture.PRESS THROUGH
HEELSSOFTEN BELLY56 YOGAJOURNAL.COMabdominals by Richard Rosen
continued on page 58