STAV STANCES & BREATHING 
The stances are at the core of Stav; they are the embodiment of the runes on which they are based. The stances are easy to learn and simple to perform. The stances bring many benefits including low impact exercises, promoting healthy natural breathing, improved posture and relaxation.
The stances are performed twice, once for the left side and once for the right. The two sides can be performed one directly after the other or with a break between them (e.g.. in the morning and again in the evening or before and after exercise). For the stances the body is moved into the shape of the rune, they are performed facing to the north and to the east, turning to the left or right as required. The rune shape can be seen by an observer standing in the east for the right hand stances and in the north for the left hand stances.
Different variations of the stances can be performed to bring emphasis on different areas such as breathing, meditation and invigoration.
Benefits of the Stances
The stances have many benefits, many of which are only revealed once the stances have been performed regularly over a period of time. Two direct and almost immediate benefits can be obtained from these stances. The first is that they exercise the body gently and without pressure. They are very low impact exercises, which can be performed no matter what your age or ability. The stances can be modified to compensate for injury and disability in order to gain the maximum benefit from them. The second is that they promote complete breathing using the whole of the lungs. This has shown to be beneficial to asthma and other respiratory ailment sufferers.
Regular practice of the stances brings other benefits including improved body posture, firmer stomach muscles and increased flexibility. Indeed those suffering from injury, stiffness in the joints and other restrictions to their movement can gain increased mobility and suppleness from performing1the stances on a regular basis.
The stances can also be a form of moving meditation, which is useful for relaxation and in relieving stress and tension.
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