Crow question

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi everyone, I’m new here and wish to get some tips about the crow pose.

i’m a relative beginner at the age of 47 (practising since Nov 2009) and have only been gradually progressing into more challenging poses this year.

i’ve been trying to get into bakasana and been practising daily for almost 3 months now and still couldn’t hold it for more than a split second.

i’ve been following the instructions in the yoga journal and also different demonstrations on youtube. I also go to classes and get useful instructions like keeping my hip high and keeping my gaze in front…etc. I feel that i am doing everything right (although my core is perhaps still a bit weak) I just couldn’t seem to make any progress at all.

any tips anyone?

#2

No tips per se but an exploratory question, if I may?

What is the nature of your current practice relative to:

Adho Mukha Svanasana
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
Phalakasana (or Adho Mukha Dandasana)
Bhujangasana
Vasisthasana
Chaturanga Dandasana
Ashtanga Namaskar
Sirsasana

#3

yes of course you may and thanks very much for the exploratory questions, Gordon.

I now go to classes about 3-4 times a week and practice bakasana daily at home (because i want to get it so much!) Most of the classes (hatha, Ashtanga mainly) incoproarated those poses on your list :

Adho Mukha Svanasana (sometimes still struggling to keep my weight balanced and mostly feel heavy on my waist and collapse towards the front)

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (ok but can’t hold for long)

Phalakasana (or Adho Mukha Dandasana) (can do it quite well)
Bhujangasana (generally ok)
Vasisthasana (a bit shaky but generally ok)
Chaturanga Dandasana (can do it quite well, on a good day)
Ashtanga Namaskar (can do it quite well)
Sirsasana (struggling on how to put my head and upper body down and can still breathe - i may need to post another thread to ask about this one :o)

btw, i should correct my previous post stating that “I feel that I am doing everything right” because the fact is i dont really have a clue with what is “right”

namaste.

#4

glpom,

The key is to fully exhale first, then tip your weight with inhalation. No lifting or pressing, just tipping. Also, get your knees as high up into your armpits as possible.

siva

#5

so there’s no need to lift…I thought core is important in this pose and I contract my belly a lot and then I couldn’t breathe. That probably make my body too tight and heavy. I was told one is supposed to feel light in this pose.

Thanks for your reply, Siva. I’ll keep trying.

#6

glpom,

That’s right. You should be already 99% balanced yet touching the floor with your feet, and then only tipping that last 1% on your balance point. If you’re retaining or exhaling when you make that tip, you have to support yourself on top of a shifting bubble of air, negotiate the changes that occur during exhalation while you come to balance. More difficult. However, if you exhale all the air out first and inhale going into it, then you are starting at rock-bottom. Very solid.

good luck,
siva

#7

Crow is the bringer of magic, and spiritual strength.

If crow enters your life, crow teaches you to work within constraints and then rise above your limitations; to get out of your familiar nest, to look beyond your present range of vision.

If what your are doing is not working than do something else.

You’ve done your due dilligence. Now lets revisit the basics.
You want a starting position.
Garland pose is as good as any.
Now a fingers spread out in a firm base? Yes so what else have you tried or missed?
You’ve tried tipping your head onto a bolster or block like a dipping bird.
A pillow is too soft a block is a firm base to return from.
You’ve tried to balance your lower body on the shelf of your upper arms?
You’ve tried to alternate the contracting and relaxing your chest back and side body like wings to push your elbows in and direct directional forces?

#8

Siva and Yogamark, you guys are amazing. your comments really inspired me.

other than the physical aspect, it’s that feeling of getting out of my familiar nest and keep trying - even when i don’t have a clue and keep falling. guess what? it comes perfect at a time when I need that mental and spiritual strength so much to move on in my life.

thanks a lot. it really helped.