Ok. This is one of those pesky pose that I always had problems with the binding. Somehow my short arms does not allow my hand to reach to hold the other hand. Today’s class was with an emphasis on opening and getting into more difficult poses such as this. Well, we were supposed to go into bound parivrtta parsvakonasana and then do a reverse standingĂ‚Â bird of paradise or reverse hands clasped in twisting Hasta Padangusthasana.
For me, I just want to get my bound parivrtta parsvakonasana right first and balance well in it. One tiny step at a time!
Previously I had done it only once correctly in another teacher’s class but ever since has yet to do it again until today. I think I have gotten it down! tee hee 
( everyone around me was “flying” off to reverse bound bird of paradise while I “fluttered” diligently in this pose… effort paid off! )
Some steps to remember when going to the pose :
1. Do warm ups and chest openers.
2. Go into the lunge and twist your body and lock your left arm over your right bended knee in a prayer twist. Make sure your weight is equally distributed to the front as well as the back leg. Back leg strong!
3. Next, extend your left arm onto the floor and the right arm up to the sky.
4. Then, look down. Use your right hand to move your left arm down below your bended right leg as far back as possible. At this point, remember your left arm need to be rotated so that it can move back and down below your leg.
5. Once your left arm is tucked as low and back as possible, open your chest and rotate your right arm up and behind your back. You really have to move your right shoulders back. Relax your shoulders back when you are reaching for the left arm. ( i think the relaxing of the shoulder part helped me in getting deeper ).
6. Once you get hold of your other hand, you can further open up your chest towards the right. Your throat should be relaxed and extended. Remember to always keep your extended back leg strong and activated!
My problem is always with the holding of the hands. Somehow I always cannot reach the other hand. But once I reached them, I can comfortable open the chest. I am going to try it again tomorrow!!! weeeee…. a small but in my opinion, gratifying improvement!
PS. I just discovered another pesky pose…. bunny hopping into handstand!!! Good grief… what am I afraid of? The wall is just behind me…
OM~
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