Starting postures prepare the body for practice.
Every yoga posture begins and ends with a starting pose.
Sitting on the heels
Kneel down with the feet tucked under the bottom. Place one of the big toes on top of the other and twist the heels slightly outward. Sit down on the heels. Place one hand in the other with the palms up. Keep the back naturally straight.
Sitting cross legged
Sit with the legs crossed. Shift your body weight slightly forward and sit on the sitting bones, not on the tail bone. Place one hand in the other, palms up. Keep the back naturally straight. There are different versions of this starting pose.
Sitting with straight legs
Sit with the legs extended straight in front of you and parallel to each other. Place one hand in the other with the palms up. Keep the back naturally straight. The knees may be bent slightly.
Lying on the stomach
Lie on the stomach with the forehead facing down and the arms extended along the sides. The inner edges of the feet should touch each other. When ending certain yoga postures, you can rest with one cheek on the ground, alternating sides each time the posture is completed.
Lying on the back
Lie on the back with the arms along the side of the body and the palms facing upwards. The inner edges of the feet should preferably touch each other.
Standing with the feet together
Stand with the feet approximately a handbreadth apart. The soles should rest firmly on the ground and the body weight should be equally distributed. Let the arms hang straight down.