Release your shoulders and elbows while still maintaining the slight outward direction of your linked thumbs thus opening your ribcage and the stretching of your index fingers which opens your shoulders.

Lead your attention to the soles of your feet. The expansion of your breath now includes your feet and releases their tension – this leads to a reduction of the tension in the entire shoulder area.

Your legs and arms get more space to straighten and a space is created in your hips to face downwards further.

Continue calmly with the expansion of your breath and stretch into the open spaces that are created.

I remain in this position until I experience an inner connection between the soles of my feet and my index fingers.

Then stand up straight again, unlock your thumbs, let your arms hang loosely and direct your gaze straight ahead.

After two or three breaths link your thumbs in the opposite way and repeat the exercise.