One Leg Forward Bend

About This Class

In this short, pose-focused class, Bryan Kest demonstrates Eka Pada Uttanasana — the one legged forward bend — using a clear, step-by-step entry from Child's Pose through Downward Facing Dog and into the full posture. The instruction emphasizes personal adaptability throughout: students may place hands on the floor, climb up the shin bones, or use blocks depending on their hamstring length and flexibility. Key technical cues include evenly distributing weight through the front foot (especially pressing into the base of the big toe), keeping the back leg active, gently squaring the hips to a personally appropriate degree, drawing the spine long to minimize compression, and engaging the abdominals during the forward fold. The neck, jaw, and eyes are cued to stay soft, and the breath is kept deep and free. The instructor repeatedly stresses that depth will vary day to day, making this a highly introspective and non-prescriptive practice suited to anyone looking to safely explore hamstring and hip flexibility.