Make sure to check out the part one of this two-part entry
on arm balances to learn some preparatory poses. This blog will go through some
poses that will have your body reaping the benefits.
The Key to Practice
After you have built enough strength to support a healthy-looking
four-limbed staff pose, you
probably have enough arm strength to move forward. When most people approach
arm balances, they find that determination will cause the body to fill with
anxiety and tension. Jason Crandell, a yoga instructor in San Francisco,
emphasizes that relaxation may be key in achieving arm balances. Create an
attitude toward arm balances that is playful, curious, and nonstriving. The key
to achieving these poses is to find the balance between effort and relaxation.
Precautions
Do not practice arm balances if you have any hand, wrist,
elbow, or shoulder injuries. If you experience pain while in a pose, there is a
good chance that you are either not ready to practice the poses and need to do
more preparatory work, or that you are in the pose wrong.
Start the Arm
Balancing
Dolphin
Plank Pose
This pose strengthens the arms, legs, and core muscles;
assists in preventing osteoporosis; stretches the shoulders, hamstrings,
calves, and arches; and calms the brain. If there is any neck tension, rest
your forehead on a block between your forearms.
Eight-Angle
Pose
Eight-angle pose strengthens the wrists and arms while
toning the abdominal muscles. If balance is difficult, rest your bottom hip and
outer leg on a bolster.
Firefly Pose
This pose stretches the inner groin and back torso, tones
the belly, strengthens the arms and wrists, and improves sense of balance. This
pose can be modified to assist beginners. Start by sitting on the floor with legs
spread to a 90 degree angle. Elevate each heel on a block and press your palms
into the floor between your legs.
Scale Pose
Most of the time, people attempting this pose have a hard
time lifting the legs when the hands are on the floor. Try using a block under
each hand to elongate your arms. This pose strengthens the wrists, arms, and
abdomen.
Resources:
YogaJournal – The Secret to
Better Arm Balances?
| 
Re: Introduction to Yoga – Arm Balances (Part 2)
