This entry was posted on Aug 20, 2024 by Charlotte Bell.
Chook Canine Pose (Parsva Balasana) might not be one in all yoga’s hottest poses, however this humble asana confers a stunning variety of advantages. Simply guessing, however its English title means that it was added to the asana canon someday throughout Britain’s occupation of India. It’s been a worthy addition. A number of years in the past, throughout my asana observe, I developed a vinyasa-type stream that begins with Chook Canine Pose. As the inspiration of a Chook Canine Move, Parsva Balasana’s potentialities are virtually limitless.
On this publish, I’ll embody pictures and transient descriptions of every pose. There are already posts describing the primary two poses within the Hugger Mugger weblog. I’ll add hyperlinks to offer you extra element. There are basic directions for the final three poses. However first, a reminder of the advantages of Chook Canine Pose.
Chook Canine Advantages
Right here’s why Chook Canine Pose ought to be part of your common asana routine:
- strengthens and stabilizes the core.
- stabilizes the low again.
- challenges, and subsequently will increase, your means to steadiness.
- might promote steadiness between the precise and left lobes of your mind by way of the contralateral relationships between the legs and arms.
- a core strengthener that’s simpler in your again than crunches or sit-ups.
Learn how to Apply Chook Canine Move
- Start on palms and knees in Tabletop Pose (Bharmanasana) on a Yoga Mat. You would possibly need to place a folded Yoga Blanket below your knees. In Chook Canine Move, you’ll be spending plenty of time on one knee!
- Take a number of breaths to settle into the pose.
Chook Canine Pose (Picture at Prime)
- Stretch your left leg again behind you.
- In case your steadiness feels secure, stretch your proper arm ahead.
- Take 3 to five breaths right here.
Chook Canine Variation
- Bend your left knee and attain your proper hand again towards your left foot.
- Both grasp your left foot, or in case your hand doesn’t attain, merely lengthen your proper hand and left foot towards each other.
- Take 3 to five breaths.
Aspect Plank Variation (Parsva Phalakasana)
- Launch the maintain of your left foot and return to Chook Canine Pose.
- Supported by your proper knee on the ground, rotate your physique to the precise so that you just’re dealing with straight forward, inserting your proper hand on the ground. Now you’re supported by your proper hand and proper knee.
- Lengthen your left arm out together with your higher arm near your ear.
- Attain your left foot down into the ground to stretch your whole left facet.
- Take 3 to five breaths right here.
Aspect Plank with Leg Elevate
- Now carry your left leg up in order that it’s roughly parallel to the ground.
- Proceed to stretch your left arm out as you stretch your leg in the wrong way.
- In case your steadiness feels shaky, flip your proper toes below. That may create a bit extra stability.
- Take 3 to five breaths right here.
Add a Backbend to Aspect Plank Pose
- Bend your left knee.
- Attain your left hand again and grasp the left foot.
- Press your left foot into your hand to stretch the entrance of the shoulder and chest.
- Take 3 to five breaths right here.
- Return to Tabletop Pose.
- Chill out for a number of breaths in Little one’s Pose (Balasana) earlier than practising Chook Canine Move on the opposite facet.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced educating in 1986. Charlotte is the writer of Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Apply and Yoga for Meditators, each revealed by Rodmell Press. Her third e book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and people sextet Pink Rock Rondo, whose DVD gained two Emmy awards.
