Cat bows

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello there!

I taught cat bows to my class today and 3 students struggled a lot. I taught it exactly as you describe it in your book SYT.

What is a good way to help them build those muscles?

Should I look through the joint freeing series and do movement that build those same muscles?

I also struggle somewhat with cat bows- I find them very challenging and jfs to be very doable so I’m wondering if there’s something in between the jfs and cat bow to build the challenge slowly?

Also, a student has hyper flexible elbows- they go about 30 degrees back
wards when she straightens them.
Should I encourage her to not straighten them all the way and strengthen
biceps and triceps to support them in their not fully straightened position?

Also, I absolutely love (and use all the time) your book SYT. Is there another book that has similar detail and/or accuracy that you’d recommend that includes more/other asanas?

Thank you immensely for your fantastic work.

Have a blessed day.

#2

For those who are weak, which is high percentage; have them go only half way down but work on good form. That is chest should lead the motion with pelvis following. This will tone the latissimus. Gradually next step is to move forward as you come down. This will build lower trapezius and fuller range of latissimus and triceps as shoulder extensors. The situation is that students are weak in upper arms and upper back. In other systems motions from downward dog to chaturanga builds this. but it is so challening that many will strain shoulders, elbows or wrists. Remember you don’t want to feel the stress of challenging poses in your joints but muscles.
The JFS does not realy build these muscles too well but movement 6a - cat and 16a spinal extension to some degree are the basic foundation for tone here.
Your student sounds like she has hyperextended elbows this weakens the biceps and triceps. remedy is keep elbows slightly bend especially in weight bearing poses.
There is no other book like SYT that i am aware of. Some other anatomy books are helpful though to complement it such as Anatomy of Motion by Calais-Germaine and The Concise Book of Muscles by Chris Jarmey (which i like the best). thanks for your Q and praise. namaste mukunda