Utthita Parsvakonasana is an excellent standing pose to perform at or near the beginning of your standing pose sequence. It's also a good ...Itmightbebetter,then,tothinkofUtthitaParsvakonasanaasthe“ExtendedSidesAnglePose.”(oo-TEE-tahparsh-vah-cone-AHS-anna)utthita=extendedparsva=side,flankkona=angleExtendedSideAnglePose:Step-by-StepInstructionsStep1StandinTadasana.Onanexhalation,steporlightlyjumpyourfeet3.5to4feetapart.Raiseyourarmsparalleltothefloorandreachthemactivelyouttothesides,shoulderbladeswide,palmsdown.Turnyourleftfootinslightlytotherightandyourrightfootouttotheright90degrees.Aligntherightheelwiththeleftheel.Firmyourthighsandturnyourrightthighoutward,sothatthecenterofthekneecapisinlinewiththecenteroftherightankle.Rollthelefthipslightlyforward,towardtheright,butrotateyouruppertorsobacktotheleft.Watchthisdemonstrationof ExtendedSideAnglePoseStep2Anchortheleft(back)heeltothefloorbyliftingtheinnerleftgroindeepintothepelvis.Thenexhaleandbendyourrightkneeovertherightankle,sothattheshinisperpendiculartothefloor.Asyoubendthekneeaimtheinnerkneetowardthelittle-toesideofthefoot.Ifpossible,bringtherightthighparalleltothefloor.Step3Firmyourshoulderbladesagainstthebackribs.Extendyourleftarmstraightuptowardtheceiling,thenturntheleftpalmtofacetowardyourheadandwithaninhalationreachthearmoverthebackofyourleftear,palmfacingthefloor.Stretchfromyourleftheelthroughyourleftfingertips,lengtheningtheentireleftsideofyourbody.Turnyourheadtolookattheleftarm.Releaseyourrightshoulderawayfromtheear.Trytocreateasmuchlengthalongtherightsideofyourtorsoasyoudoalongtheleft.Watchthisvideoon ExtendedSideAnglePoseStep4Asyoucontinuetogroundyourleftheeltothefloor,exhaleandlaytherightsideofyourtorsodownonto(orbringitascloseaspossibleto)thetopoftherightthigh.Pressyourrightfingertips(orpalm)onthefloorjustoutsideofyourrightfoot.Activelypushtherightkneebackagainsttheinnerarm;counterthisbyburrowingyourtailboneintothebackofyourpelvis,towardthepubis.Theinsideofyourrightthighshouldbeparallelwiththelongedge