Happy Monday, Inspire Yogis!
I am excited to announce that we will be starting to do yoga poses of the month, featuring students and teachers at the Denton and Highland Village (& hopefully Grapevine) studios! In these blogs, my hopes for you is to explore the benefits of different asanas, find variations and warm-ups for your own practice and maybe learn a new pose or two! Without further adieu, the pose of the month is…
WILD THING!
I chose this pose not only because it is an excellent pose for the entire body, but also because there are so many variations for this pose! Wild thing, or Camatkarasana in Sanskrit, means the “ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart.” This asana is a wonderful way to open the heart, draw attention to your breath and add a little fun into your practice. So embrace your wild side!
Benefits:
- A full, front-body opener
- Stretches the chest, shoulders and throat
- Opens the front of the legs and hip flexors
- Strengthens the shoulders and upper back
Variations:
- With bottom knee on the ground
- Grabbing foot with free hand
Warm-Up Poses:
- Crescent Lunge
- Side Plank
- Upward Facing Dog or Cobra
- Downward Facing Dog
Counterposes:
- Child’s Pose
- Pigeon Pose
- Threaded Needle
- Any forward fold
Do not attempt this pose if you have weak wrists or shoulders, spinal injuries, if you are ill or if you are pregnant. Always remember to listen to your body and respect its needs.
Show us your wild thing (& let us know how much it makes your heart sing) by posting a picture on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #IYPOM and check out our instagram to see more tips and tricks on our poses of the month! Happy yoga-ing!
For class times to get your wild thing on, click here!
Well said: “ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart” is exactly how this pose feels!