Arm Balances

 

Geometry:The four limbs of the hands and feet support the weight of the body. The body is straight, strong and steady like a staff. The hands are shoulder width and parallel. Hands in line with lower ribs.The legs are hip width and parallel. 

To learn the pose, practice near a wall.  Practice Urdhva Hastasana to learn the arm actions in the pose.  For the first variation, the palms turn out when you place the hands a few inches away from the wall.  Press the palms firmly as you externally rotate the upper arms and move the shoulderblades into the back.

start with malasana taking 5 breaths while in the pose. transition to bakasana then to salamba sirsana 2 hold the pose taking 5 breaths. move the right leg by sliding the right leg with the left leg lowering forming figure number 4 and take 3 breaths. lower both legs forming butterfly position while in sirsana. 3 breaths lower both legs releasing salamba sirsasana 2 and transition to supta virasana. take 5 breaths. release supta virasana with your arms and core rise up to ustrasana. take 5 breaths. release ustrasana then lastly, take child's pose breath while releasing all tension. namaste.  

All John's classes follow the Iyengar method of yoga, based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, the foremost living yoga teacher in the world. His rigorous approach emphasizes a balance between strength and flexibility, builds endurance, and develops Self-awareness through precision in movement and attention to subtleties of body, breath, mind, and spirit. In the Spring Session, John concentrates on strengthening poses to build stamina, like standing poses, abdominal strengtheners and arm balances. Listen to a Sample and Download this class!