This is really like cheating.
Today class was interesting as the teacher shared his techniques in some of the arm balance asanas like Koundinyasana 1 etc. Arm balancing poses has always been one of the most challenging to most beginners as these require not only some flexibility ( certain poses ), opening of hips or shoulders as well as some strength. Sometimes even people with great strength may not be able to do some of the arm balancing poses! To many, arm balancing poses seemed to require a lot strength in the arms.
But the actual fact cannot be further from the truth…
Yes, some strength is required but only with a combination of all strength, flexibility, opening that you can get the beautiful graceful lightness that you see when some of the incredible yogis around. You simply can’t do it with just brute force!
Of course, to do a arm balance pose, we also need to understand some basic physics of it in order to find “tricks” or techniques to help us and not hinder us. Today we did the Koundinyasana 2 with a tip or cheat to help us. The leg in front has to be tucked behind the shoulder as far back as possible before even lifting the front leg up and shifting the body’s weight to the chaturanga arms. Put the other free bent arm (the side without the front leg) near the body, as close to the ribs as possible. With that arm also helping to support your body weight, half the battle is won. From there, you can easily lift the leg up and hold there.
And it so was true! I could hold there with ease, much more ease! Although the leg is just parallel to the floor, it was still lifted and it was quite easy and I could hold there for quite a while. Some of the other “cheats” include putting the head on the floor ( this is really a BIG cheat… hehe ), shifting the weight by leaning forward ( I use this alot to help me lifting the back leg higher… ), rolling in the inner thighs before lifting and then tucking the tailbone strongly to activate a higher lift…
Some tips may work better for some as we are all built different. The only way is to try and experiment. This is why yoga is so fantastic. While working with ourselves, we learn more and more about our body. We appreciate our body and we understand how we make it work with the eventual goal of effortless in the pose and hopefully to a state of meditation after…
~Namaste!
