Triangle Pose

What Does Triangle Pose Mean?

Triangle pose is a standing yoga posture that improves focus, balance and flexibility. This pose serves the body well as an opener for the hips, while strengthening the ankles, knees and thighs. It also stretches the hamstrings, calves, shoulders, chest and spine.

Both arms extend vertically with the legs spread apart and the lead foot turned outward at a 90-degree angle. The upper body bends toward the lead foot so that one arm reaches toward the ground (but does not necessarily have to touch the ground) and the other toward the sky.

Triangle pose may also be referred to by its Sanskrit name, trikonasana.

Yogapedia Explains Triangle Pose

Some of the benefits of triangle pose include:

• Improved digestion from the stimulation of the abdominal organs
• Relief from stress
• Improved balance and flexibility
• Relief from backache

It is also believed to relieve the symptoms of menopause and help infertility, sciatica and osteoporosis.

The various schools of yoga disagree about whether there is a difference between triangle and extended triangle pose, and what that difference is. Most noticeably, it depends on hand placement and torso position: triangle pose may keep the bottom hand off the ground, while extended triangle pose may place the hand on the floor or grab the big toe.

Triangle pose is also similar to side angle pose, expect that the latter is performed with the lead leg bent at a 90-degree angle, while triangle pose maintains straight legs.