Chook Canine Move: Core, Steadiness and Extra

Chook Canine Pose (Parsva Balasana) is probably not one in all yoga’s hottest poses, however this humble asana confers a stunning variety of advantages. Simply guessing, however its English identify 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 circulate that begins with Chook Canine Pose. As the inspiration of a Chook Canine Move, Parsva Balasana’s prospects are virtually infinite.

On this put up, I’ll embrace images and temporary descriptions of every pose. There are already posts describing the primary two poses within the Hugger Mugger weblog. I’ll add hyperlinks to present you extra element. There are common 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 due to this fact will increase, your capacity to stability.
• could promote stability between the best and left lobes of your mind via the contralateral relationships between the legs and arms.
• a core strengthener that’s simpler in your again than crunches or sit-ups.

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 underneath your knees. In Chook Canine Move, you’ll be spending lots of time on one knee!
• Take just a few breaths to settle into the pose.

Chook Canine Pose (Picture at High)

• Stretch your left leg again behind you.
• In case your stability feels steady, 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 seize your left foot, or in case your hand doesn’t attain, merely prolong 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 best so that you just’re going through straight forward, inserting your proper hand on the ground. Now you’re supported by your proper hand and proper knee.
• Prolong your left arm out along with your higher arm near your ear.
• Attain your left foot down into the ground to stretch your whole left aspect.
• Take 3 to five breaths right here.

Aspect Plank with Leg Raise

• Now raise 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 stability feels shaky, flip your proper toes underneath. 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 seize 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 just a few breaths in Baby’s Pose (Balasana) earlier than training Chook Canine Move on the opposite aspect.

About Charlotte Bell

Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced instructing 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 Purple Rock Rondo, whose DVD received two Emmy awards.