Standing Poses Wanted

About This Class

Bryan Kest leads a comprehensive, breath-centered vigorous flow that earns its "Standing Poses Wanted" title through extended rounds of standing sequences and lunges, but ultimately touches every corner of the body. The class opens in child's pose with a detailed pranayama orientation — nasal breathing, full lung capacity, smooth rhythmic breath — establishing mindfulness as the practice's backbone. From there, a progressive warm-up moves through downward-facing dog, tabletop, cobra repetitions, and a six-movement sun-salutation-style flow (standing forward fold, flat-back lift, plank, lower to cobra, down dog) repeated multiple times to build heat. Standing balancing sequences follow — side plank variations, "awkward airplane" (straight-leg lateral balance), warrior-style lunges with chest lifts — each held long enough to challenge strength and stability. Deep hip-opening work includes a pigeon-adjacent floor sequence (knee crossed toward armpit) targeting the glutes, hips, and IT band area. Backbends include bow pose (Dhanurasana) and progressive cobras. The class finishes with half-lotus forward fold (Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana), Navasana-style core work with scissor legs, plow-adjacent legs-overhead, and shoulder stand (Sarvangasana), before a supine twist and an extended gratitude meditation in Savasana. Throughout, Bryan emphasizes listening to the body, backing off before boundaries, and cultivating calmness as the most important "muscle."