My favorite pose is, very simply, Child’s pose. I could stay there all day long. Never underestimate the power of the simple postures! I also enjoy the heat and dance-like flow of the Sun Salutations. And although I used to dread Chaturanga, I actually love it now, and I have the giant triceps to prove it! Arm balances in general are so much fun, especially when you master one you thought you could never do. The picture below is one of my first attempts at astavakrasana (eight-angle pose). It’s actually much easier than it looks…
My most hated yoga poses are Upward Plank Pose (hate hate hate) and Boat (Navasana). Particularly Upward Plank. I can’t believe how horrible that pose feels. My body feels so stuck, like I just can’t lift my hips high enough or get my feet flat enough. It is also one of the most important poses in my practice because I do so many arm balances. My shoulders are really strong, but also really tight, and Upward Plank counteracts that tightness in the fronts of the shoulders. So I do the pose and think of it as medicine, or physical therapy.
Navasana was impossible for me after I had my second baby. My poor stomach muscles were thin as pancakes after two baby boys who weighed 10 and 9 pounds, respectively. With regular practice, I slowly got my core back and now I can hold Navasana for quite a while, although my muscles always shake, and I feel it too much in my hip flexors, not enough in my abs.
I always make myself practice my hated poses. Usually I find that, over time, they work themselves into my muscles if I stop fighting so hard. Instead of trying harder, try softer. That is my mantra!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Those poses look painful. How can you bend your body that way?
laura, this post was very helpful!
Surprisingly, once you learn how to get into astavakrasana, it is one of the easier arm balances. At least I think so! The key is really squeezing your upper arm with your legs and pressing your ankles together.