The feeling of flying on your yoga mat is one of yoga’s greatest gifts.
Though at some point arm balances may forever feel out of reach, when the moment happens that you do fly, the body seems to just “click” and opens the door to many other arm balances for you to add to your yoga practice.
Well, friend, today we are going to fly together into Hurdler’s Pose, Eka Pada Koundinyasana II.
The Secrets To Balancing on Your Hands
Hurdler’s Pose, like so many other arm balances, requires some key physical alignments and strength in order to lift your feet off the ground. Here are 3 secrets to launch you into your arm balance.
1. Tap into your core strength.
Your core is the inner strength that will help lift and stabilize you in the posture. Incorporate regular core strengthening in your yoga practice to keep this vital area of your body strong. More on yoga core strength here.
2. It’s all in the arms
As you begin to fly, bring your arms to Chatarunga Dandasana arms to create a shelf for your body to lay on. The result is you create a strong and solid base to support your weight, with the help of your core strength.
To do this, bend your elbows at 90 degrees to stack your elbows over your wrists. The “shelf” you create is on your triceps.
3. Have the mind of a child
Kids are free of past experiences to not form expectations, or fear, of what they think will happen. They trust that they will either be successful or will learn how to improve the next time. Have the mind of a child. Let go of expectations, and just try.
How To Do Hurdler’s Pose – Your At-Home Arm Balance Workshop
What you’ll need:
A yoga mat, if you prefer, but truly you only need yourself.
The Benefits of Hurdler’s Pose:
Builds upper body strength, stretches hamstrings and hips, builds core strength
Life Application
How did it feel to fly today? Even if your back toes stayed on your mat, you took a step forward to floating your feet. Simply by having that mindset is just as freeing as it is to arm balance on your yoga mat.
So, where can you have the mindset of flying off your mat? Can you let go of past experiences to take that leap to pursue your dream career? Can you let go of expectations and fear to book your solo travel trip? What would it feel like to bring a sense of play to a situation you are fearing?
With every new experience on our yoga mat comes a new lesson to take with us in real life.
Where and how will you fly next?
