FitSugar

Strike a Yoga Pose: Straight Legs Side Crow

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:30:00 PST

If you had a fun time practicing the arm-balancing pose Side Crow, then you're going to love this next pose called Straight Legs Crow. It's a little bit more challenging since it requires strength, balance, and flexibility, but once you nail it, you'll feel amazing.

Sanskrit Name: Koundinyasana A or Dwi Pada Koundinyasana
English Translation: Two-Legged Sage Pose
Also Called: Straight Legs Side Crow

To learn how to get into this acrobatic-looking pose

Begin squatting down on your mat with your knees and feet together. Rotate your torso to the left and place both palms flat on the ground, shoulder width apart. They should be perpendicular to your thighs.
Spread your fingers as wide as you can and begin to shift to the left, putting some of your weight into your hands. Your outer left knee is going to rest on your right elbow and your outer left thigh (close to your hip) is going to rest on your left elbow. Think of your arms as the legs of a table, and your left thigh is the tabletop.
Try to keep your knees together as you shift all your weight into your hands and slowly lift your feet off the floor.
It's OK if you lose your balance and fall over. Just keep trying until eventually you can hold this pose for five even breaths.
Then bend your knees and lower your feet back to the floor. Rotate your torso over to the right, place your palms on the ground, and try this pose on the right side.

How to Master Scissor Legs Side Crow Pose

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:23:43 PDT

Even if you've never done regular ol' Crow Pose, you can master this advanced variation of this arm balance with the right preparation. Yoga arm balances may look straight out of Cirque du Soleil and impossible, but breaking the poses down step by step can help you master them. Try out this sequence of yoga poses to stretch your hip flexors, increase the flexibility of your spine, and build your upper-body strength so the next time you hit the mat, you'll be able to do Scissor Legs Side Crow.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Cobra

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Some yoga poses require a ton of strength such as Crow, and other poses involve balance such as Standing Hand to Big Toe. Then there are those poses that are all about relaxing and gently stretching your muscles. Cobra is one of those poses that's all about feeling good and breathing. As you increase flexibility in your spine, you are also opening your shoulders and chest (heart), which makes you feel light and ready to give and accept love.

Sanskrit Name: Bhujangasana
English Translation: Cobra Pose
Also Called: Snake

Lie on your belly, on either a thick yoga mat, cotton rug, or a carpeted surface. Since your hip bones will be on the ground, you want to make sure they are padded and won't bruise. If you were doing some standing or seated poses before this, feel free to take a vinyasa to get back to Downward Facing Dog, and then come to lie on your belly.
Bring your legs together so your knees are touching. Then extend your arms straight out in front of you.
As you lift your head up off the ground, begin to slowly walk your hands in, keeping your hips and thighs on the ground, but gently arching your lower back. Walk them in as far as you want, keeping your elbows slightly bent. If your back is really flexible, you can begin to straighten your arms.
Actively roll your shoulders back and down away from your ears, elongating your neck. Keep looking in front of you, or if you want more of a stretch, drop your head back between your shoulder blades.
Stay here, opening through the chest, making sure to relax all your muscles (don't clench your butt). Take deep breaths, at least 5 or more, and then slowly lower your chest back to the ground. Lay your arms next to the sides of your body and bring one cheek to the ground.
When you're ready, you can bring your hands by your shoulders, press into your arms, bend your knees and come into Child's pose to release your lower back and neck.