Parsvottanasana: Now I Know More

At the beginning of the month, I posted about how I didn't care for this pose much. I vowed to practice it and teach it in every class for the month to explore where it was my attitude came from. My students and I played with working the feet more, engaging the legs more fully, opening the heart more. I discovered what I didn't like...I have to work harder in the pose than, well, I wanted to. I wasn't working my legs enough, grounding the back heal and the ball of the front foot. I discovered that grounding the back foot helped wake up my back hamstring and the inner thigh. I also discovered that I needed to draw the femur bone in more as I drew up and over the front leg. Phew! Good stuff! Now, while I don't profess to loving the pose yet...I do understand its gift to me...

Parsvottanasana

I had not realized how much I enjoy this pose before this month. I cannot say that I practiced it every day. I did study it myself to come up with teaching points and I did put it in many of the classes I taught. There are so many fun variations and great ways to explore this pose. One of my favorites is with the back foot against the wall and the hands down to blocks. Feels so good and really helps you to feel the energy in this pose.

Writing about it is inspiring me to get on my mat and experience this pose right now. Bye!

Taught it Tonight

I taught the pose tonight and focused on keeping weight balanced in both legs. Fun variations! Want to read more? I wrote about it here.

Parsvottanasana: Ideas for Deeper Study

Before moving into the pose, feel complete equality between each leg. Then move slowly into the pose maintaining that equality.

Explore the connection between your back heal and your heart.

How does your heart affect your head position?

Play with the position of your arms behind your back. Do you have a position you prefer? Why?

Parsvottanasana: What's to Become of Me!

Okay, this month's pose is one of my least favorite. I injured my hamstring 13 years ago and this pose was the one that most aggravated the injured state. About two months ago I healed the injury completely. (You can read the discussion I had around it with Nadine Fawell.) Anyway, I taught the pose this morning and realized, even though my injury is gone, I still have animosity toward the pose! This month I vow to include it in every practice and teach it in every class. It is time to learn more from this pose. It obviously has something to teach me.