Upward Salute

Upward Salute is a full-body lengthener — feet rooted, arms overhead, a gentle arc through the upper spine. It opens every Sun Salutation but stands on its own as a single-breath reset whenever you've been hunched over a desk.

How to do it

Stand tall, feet together or hip-width apart, weight even across both feet. Sweep the arms out to the sides and up overhead. Palms can touch above the head or stay shoulder-width apart. Reach the fingertips up, lift the chest, and let the upper spine arch gently back. Gaze stays forward or comes up toward the thumbs, whichever is easier on the neck. Shoulders stay down, away from the ears.

Common mistakes

Don't crunch the lower back to get more lift — the gentle back-bend lives in the upper spine, not the lumbar. And don't shrug the shoulders up toward the ears when the arms go overhead; reach up through the fingertips while the shoulder blades slide down the back.