Warrior II - Virabhadrasana II

Warrior II is a powerful stance in which we open our hips, strengthening us from our foundation, being the feet all the way up to the neck.  This powerful stance that if practiced will enable us to find calm amidst our storms.  As we hold this posture, we find ourselves very aware of it's difficulty.  Tune into the breath, even counting the breath or attaching a color to our breath.  Find a focus point. Envision a beautiful lake and imagine the lake with it's crystal clear refection of the sky.  Distract the mind from the uncomfortable with breath and focus.  All else will melt away as you practice this posture.  Hold for at least 5 breaths.

Warrior II - Virabhadrasana II

1. Make sure your stance is wide. Turn your front foot facing forward(begin with left or right).  Take your back foot with toes angling forward slightly.
2. Take a look at your front knee.  Make sure it is over the ankle and you can see your toes.
3. Keep your shoulders in line with legs and torso, with your shoulder blades flat against the back.  Also ensure your shoulders are over your hips. Do not lean forward or backwards.
4. Keep your hips open, as if you're right up against a wall and you can feel both hip bones on the wall, chest flat against the wall.
5. Press into the outside of the back foot and ground down through the heel of the front foot.
6. Engage the thighs upward, so there is no sinking into the knees.

*hands on hips to begin is helpful in creating your foundation before raising the arms.  You may also keep your gaze forward looking right above your front hand or you may look forward of your torso, whichever helps your balance and neck.

One more tip that may help you as you practice yoga: Take pictures or use a mirror while you practice.  Often we think we are in the pose, and when we look at the picture, we find that we are bending a knee or that we are leaning forward or backwards too far.  Maybe our elbows are bent?  We see that and can use it to notify that part of our body when we visit the posture again.  It helps us to be aware of a part of our body we didn't notice before because our brains were consciously paying attention to something else.  In time, our sub conscious takes over and we don't have to consciously think about every aspect of this posture.  Our bodies will naturally go there.