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Wheel Pose

Urdhva Dhanurasana (OORD-vah don-your-AHS-anna)

Deeply opens chest, shoulders, hip flexors, and front body. Strengthens arms, legs, and back. Energizes and uplifts.

Wheel Pose

You Should Feel

Opening across your entire front body. Work in your legs, glutes, arms, and back. Challenge and intensity.

How to Get Into the Pose

  • 1Feet hip-width apart, parallel, close to your hips
  • 2Hands by your ears, fingers pointing toward your shoulders
  • 3Press into hands and feet to lift your hips and chest
  • 4Keep your knees tracking over your ankles (don't let them splay out)
  • 5Engage your glutes and legs actively
  • 6Breathe steadily

Modifications

  • If full wheel isn't accessible: Practice bridge pose instead or come up onto the crown of your head briefly
  • If shoulders are tight: Widen hand placement slightly
  • If wrists are sensitive: Turn hands slightly outward
  • To deepen: Walk feet closer to hands, or lift one leg