Boat pose, or paripurna navasana, is an oldie but goodie when you want to strengthen your core. It simultaneously works your hip flexors, ...Sendusanote!June11,20185TipstoRockYourBoatPoseDoboatposetostrengthenyourhipflexorsBoatpose,orparipurna navasana,isanoldiebutgoodiewhenyouwanttostrengthenyourcore.Itsimultaneouslyworksyourhipflexors,abdominalsandadductormuscles.Butitseemsmanypeoplemisunderstandthenatureofboatpose.Sure,yourabdominalmuscleswillsupportyouinthepose.Buttherealco-starsoftheshowareyourhipflexors,specificallyyouriliopsoasandrectusfemorismuscles.Yourhipflexorsareagroupofmusclesthatdecreasetheangleofyourhipjoint.Inotherwords,thesemusclesbringyourbellyandthighbonesclosertogether.Paripurnanavasanaisachallengingyeteffectiveyogaposethatwillhelpyoulightenupyourpracticeabit.Whenthehipflexorsarestrong,you’reabletostepforwardabitmoregracefullyorfloatforwardmoregentlyfromDownwardFacingDog.Asvinyasayogis,wetendtooverstretchthehipflexors(thinklowlunge)comparedtohowlittlewestrengthenthem.That’swhyit’sPowerflowYoga’sJunePoseoftheMonth.Hereare5tipstohelpanybeginner,intermediateoradvancedyogirocktheirboatpose.1.RoottoriseStudentsoftenfocustoomuchontheoutwardexpressionofayogapose.Inboatpose,forexample,they’resoconcernedwithhowhightheycanlifttheirlegsthattheyloseallsenseoforientation.Focusyourawarenessonthefloor—specificallyhowyourpelvissitsonyourmat.Thefloorisoneofthemostusefulpropsavailabletoyou.Beginboatposeseatedwithyourfeetflatonthefloor.Rollyourbuttocksfleshbacksoyourtailboneisn’tscoopedunderyourbody.Presstheheadsofyourthighsbonesintoyourmattostabilizethebody.Bypressingintothefloor,youcanliftthroughtheroofofyourmouthtofindmoreaxialextensioninyourspine.2.UseablockbetweenyourthighsThehipflexorsareoneofthemostcommonlymisunderstoodmusclesinthehumanbody.Whenmostpeopletalkaboutthehipflexors,they’reusuallyreferringtotheiliopsoasmuscles.Buttherearemanyothers.Infact,fouroutofyourfiveadductormuscles(innerthighs)aidinhipflexion.Withyourkneesstillbentandfeetflat,placeablockbetw