This entry was posted on Aug 20, 2024 by Charlotte Bell.
Chook Canine Pose (Parsva Balasana) might not be one in every of yoga’s hottest poses, however this humble asana confers a shocking 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 apply, I developed a vinyasa-type circulation that begins with Chook Canine Pose. As the muse of a Chook Canine Circulation, Parsva Balasana’s potentialities are virtually infinite.
On this submit, I’ll embody photographs 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 present 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 needs to be part of your common asana routine:
- strengthens and stabilizes the core.
- stabilizes the low again.
- challenges, and subsequently will increase, your capacity to stability.
- could promote stability between the fitting 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.
Easy methods to Observe Chook Canine Circulation
- Start on fingers 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 Circulation, you’ll be spending a number of time on one knee!
- Take just a few breaths to settle into the pose.
Chook Canine Pose (Photograph at High)
- Stretch your left leg again behind you.
- In case your stability 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 snatch 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 fitting 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.
- Lengthen your left arm out together with your higher arm near your ear.
- Attain your left foot down into the ground to stretch your complete left facet.
- Take 3 to five breaths right here.
Aspect Plank with Leg Carry
- 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 other 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 snatch 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.
- Calm down for just a few breaths in Youngster’s Pose (Balasana) earlier than practising Chook Canine Circulation on the opposite facet.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced instructing in 1986. Charlotte is the writer of Conscious Yoga, Conscious Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe and Yoga for Meditators, each revealed by Rodmell Press. Her third ebook 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.