This is my absolute favourite pose. Each class, I can’t wait to get to this one!
Whereas I often still struggle with balancing poses, and I definitely still need to build up muscle strength for strengthening poses – stretching I can do. I have always been very flexible, especially in my hips and legs.
I was already doing quite well with this pose, or so I thought. My feet weren’t too far apart, my hands were around the back of my heels and my forehead was getting quite close to the floor. But I couldn’t get my forehead ON the floor, whatever I tried (one thing I tried was to widen my stance, but that didn’t feel right at all, and having read Gabrielle’s blog on this, that now makes total sense). Still the teacher called out to me: “girl in the pink top, you’re flexible, try and get your forehead on the floor between your feet!” – what did she think I was doing? Not trying?
So I grumbled something like “believe me, I AM trying”. But then the teacher walked past, just ever so subtly adjusted my shoulders and my elbows and then said “now lengthen your spine and neck”. As soon as I did, my head actually HIT the floor! I couldn’t help myself and shouted OW! and I had to laugh because it was so unexpected. My friend, who was standing next to me, also burst into laughter, which resulted in her losing her balance and falling out of the pose, which made the girl next to her lose her balance, and the girl next to her…
I’m afraid I was the cause of “yoga dominoes” for that pose! But after it, everyone was laughing and in such a good mood, and the energy in the class totally changed and everyone commented at the end of the class that it all seemed so much easier when you’re in a positive mood!
But now I love this pose even more. I love how the adjustment of my shoulders and elbows opened things up so I can now lengthen and stretch more comfortably!
