The Bird of Paradise is not a bird at all, but a flower. The unusually beautiful shapes and colors of the petals look like a bird taking flight, while the signature asymmetrical shape makes this a staple in most tropical bouquets.
Similarly, Bird of Paradise Pose celebrates asymmetry and is a creative expression of a mash-up of Tree, Extended Side Angle, and Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose.
Unlike the effortless beauty of the flower, this challenging asana pushes the edges of shoulder and hip flexibility, and requires a tremendous amount of physical and spatial awareness in order to maintain stable footing.
Benefits of Bird of Paradise Pose: Standing on one leg will strengthen your calves, quadriceps, and glutes, as well as help you access and engage your core to keep you from losing your balance.