Chair Pose will strengthen your thighs, helping to stabilize your knees. Your ankles will become more limber and sturdy, and your arms and ...Someyogaposesmaycometoyouquicklyandeasily,withlittlestruggleinflexibilityorstrength.Otherposescanfeelnearlyimpossible,evenafteryearsofpractice.Utkatasana(ChairPose)fallsintoacategoryofitsown:Itlooksdeceptivelyeasyandstraightforward;yet,whenyoutryit,you’llfinditdemandsagreatdealofflexibilityintheshouldersaswellasstabilityinthecoreandstrengthinthelegs.ThatisthechallengeofChairPose.Itssimpleformofferslittlepromiseofglory.Foralltheeffortitrequires,youwon’tendupwithyourlegwrappedbehindyourheadorinsomeotherfancyposition.WhenIteachChair,atfirstitproducesmorefrownsandevenmoansthanalmostanyotherpose.YetwhenIaskmystudentstopersevere,theyarealwaysgladtheydid.It’shardwhileyou’reinit,butintheendthisposebringsasatisfyingsenseofaccomplishment.Itteachesyouthedeterminationyouneedtomeetachallengeandtheperseverancetoreturntoitrepeatedlyovertime,despiteitsdifficulty.ChairPosewillstrengthenyourthighs,helpingtostabilizeyourknees.Yourankleswillbecomemorelimberandsturdy,andyourarmsandshoulderswillgainpowerandflexibility.Asyoureachyourarmsupandstretchthemusclesbetweenyourribs,you’llincreaseyourbreathingcapacity.Theposecanalsohelpimproveyourposture.Allofthecoremusclesfireasyouholdthepose,liftingyourpelvisintoamoreuprightalignmentandworkingagainstthetendencytoexaggeratethearchofthespineasyoureachupandbackwiththearms.Whew!Soundlikealot?That’sthepointofChairPose:Youlearntohandlemanyactionsallatthesametimeforwhatfeelslikewaytoolong.It’shelpfultopracticeChairintwoparts.First,practicetheposewiththelowerhalfofyourbody.Beforeaddingthearms,workonbendingyourkneestowardarightanglewhileshiftingyourweightbackintoyourheels.Then,standtallinTadasana(MountainPose)andworkonextendingyourstraightarmsupandoverheadwithoutlettingyourribcagejutforwardoryourbackoverarch.Finally,youcanbringalltheelementstogetherintoacohesiveandpowerfulwhole.Unitetheworkofthelegsandarmsbybringin