This class studies Vatayānāsana (Horse Pose), a rare Second Series posture combining Half Lotus with balance and hip opening. We begin by learning the flip into Half Lotus, folding forward, then jumping back while keeping the Lotus foot and knee lifted off the ground in Chaturanga, Up Dog, and Down Dog. From there, we explore the setup: either with Half Lotus or a simpler open stance if Lotus isn’t available. The key is grounding the legs, externally rotating the hips, and keeping the torso upright rather than collapsing forward. Students practice upright balance drills—tucking the tail, lifting through the navel, and stabilizing even in the unstable stance. Arm variations include raising both arms vertically (meditation style) or crossing the arms in front while resisting rib flare, which strengthens the shoulders and spine. Props such as knee padding, a wall, or chair support are used to make the unstable position accessible and safe. The takeaway: Vatayānāsana is less about rushing to a five-breath hold and more about researching the stance, balancing the pelvis, and integrating arms and shoulders to turn a tricky, unstable shape into a grounded meditation in action. Model - Delara Tiv (Ashtanga Vevey)