From Downward Dog To Seated - A Jumping Tip For Short Arms

Being petite, at only a mere 1.52 meter tall and having short arms, I find that I am at a disadvantage when I do certain poses or asanas. Each person is anatomically different and hence one pose may be easy for you and another pose, totally impossible to do.

Some teachers however say that it shouldn’t matter. Perhaps… But not when you do not have the strength or flexibility yet to overcome the various difficulty in these poses. Seriously, some poses are oh-so-easy for some long limbed people while I struggle like a beginner to get into them ( cowface or binding during

One of such difficulty was jumping from downward dog straight into a seated position with legs straight out in front (ashtanga style). With short arms, the area to jump through is shortened and often I find that I cannot “swing” through and the legs always get “stuck” at the “gateway”. Thus I was reduced to going into a crossed legged seated pose first and then extend the legs out.

But finally I was able to jump through straight legged yesterday!

How?

Pretty ingenious I must say. I attended an intermediate yoga workshop by Kenny ( yes, the teacher with the much drool-some physique ) and picked up this tip.

So if you are short like me, you can try this :

When you jump forward, just lift up your wrists! ( shifting your weight all on your knuckles and finders )

Neat?

You bet. I was able to slip through ( still not as smoothly but it went through ) with straight legs! Yey!

OM~

PS. HEadstand?? still working on that… grrrrr….. but i am glad to report that I am finding more confidence in tripod headstand!

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