Sunday, July 25, 2004


surprisingly comfy

sometimes people write me to ask why i don't scribble more here about yoga poses per se, or why don't i post pictures of my own practice.

i guess the answer is that i'm more into just talking about yoga in a friendly way than intimidating new people with descriptions of pretzel poses or impressing more experienced students with all the supposedly "fancy" stuff i've "attained."

because that "attainment yoga" is pretty phoney stuff, right?

but today i'm going to talk about a fabulous and surprisingly comfy way toward a so-called "advanced" pose, shalabasana with the legs over the head (known as "full locust" or "flying grasshopper").

we did this yesterday in keith's class at yoga people.

it looks scary, sure, but it's very accessible. what you need: 3 blankets or a really cushy bolster; 1 block; 1 towel; 1 wall.

put your yoga mat at the wall and get into half-chatarunga (also known as "knees-chest-chin," "8-point prone pose," "ashtanga pranam," "catepillar pose" or sometimes "awkward pose") with your feet against the baseboard of the wall. note where your chest falls.

that's the place you want your blankets or bolster. depending on, um, the physique of your chest, you may want to roll the blankets into a thick sausage, or leave them flat -- the idea is to be comfy. you don't gain any points for suffering, so don't waste your time!

if you're a computer user you may have a slightly stiff neck. so place the block where your chin fell and cover it with your towel for extra cushiness. use whatever side of the block that feels best for your neck.

now get back into the knees-chest-chin position. your chin should be on the block, your chest comfortably on the blankets/bolster, and your hands will probably fall so that the fingers hide under the edge of the blankets/bolster a bit -- maybe even all the way!

pressing firmly into your hands, walk your feet up the wall as high as you can without discomfort. press into your feet as you move them up.

most people will be able to get high enough that they can point their toes and place the tops of their feet against the wall.

this is a deep backbend, so be self-aware and gentle with yourself! but once you're there, it's really strangely easy and light.

hang out as long as you like, breathing as deeply as possible. . ..supported full locust. ah!

if you like, carefully move one leg at time, bending it over so your toes point down toward your head.

posted by fortune | 10:15 AM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments