Star Pose (Utthita Tadasana) demonstrated
Category
Standing
Level
beginner
Hold
3–5 breaths
Type
Asana
Breath
Full, even breaths into an open chest.

Star Pose

Utthita Tadasana — "extended mountain posture"

Also known as: Five-Pointed Star

Feet wide, arms wide, everything reaching outward — a five-pointed star. A simple, expansive pose that resets posture between stronger standing work.

Step by step

  1. 1Step your feet wide apart, toes pointing forward, outer edges parallel.
  2. 2Reach your arms out to the sides at shoulder height, palms facing forward.
  3. 3Press evenly through all four corners of both feet and lift the kneecaps gently.
  4. 4Lengthen your tailbone down and draw the lower ribs softly in.
  5. 5Reach out through all five points at once — feet, hands, and crown of the head.
  6. 6Breathe wide into the chest and hold, quietly active.

Benefits

  • Stretches the arms, chest, and inner thighs
  • Improves posture and full-body awareness
  • Creates a neutral transition between wide-stance poses
  • Encourages full, open breathing

Make it yours

  • · Narrow the stance for easier grounding.
  • · Practice with your back against a wall to feel the whole body in one plane.

Take care

  • Lower the arms, or rest the hands on the hips, if you have a shoulder injury.

This is general practice guidance, not medical advice. If something hurts, ease out of it.

Props that help here

  • Manduka PRO The buy-it-once option — dense, stable, famously durable. Heavy, so it lives at home, which is where practice happens anyway. find one
  • Liforme Original The grippiest mat we've used, with alignment markers that genuinely help beginners place hands and feet. Priciest of the three. find one

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