Living Yoga

Last week I was teaching a class at an office in Manhattan to a group of about twenty women ranging in their early 20’s to late 40’s when I realized exactly why I love teaching the Crow Pose more than anything else. Because how you get into your Crow is how you get into your life. Okay, I’ll explain.

Crow Pose is an arm balance that looks crazy harder than it actually is…

Thank you, yogadownload.com for the awesome crow photo.

Very often I can get people into this pose in their first yoga class, others are still trying to come into after months of classes. It’s not a matter of arm strength, it’s a bit about hip flexibility (getting your knees onto the backs of the arms), and most definitely it’s a pose about taking the chance to go forward, possibly falling flat on your face, to find balance.

Back to the class at the office last week…when I showed them the Crow there were a lot of oooh’s and ahhh’s and doubtful faces. I demonstrated the step-by-step set up and every one of them was in the perfect position to balance in the pose, and every one of them held back and didn’t go forward that extra inch to stay balanced. They doubted, were tentative and didn’t get into it. I heard the excuses, “My arms aren’t strong enough,” “I weigh too much.” All nonsense. The lady who said she weighed too much was about my size!

When practicing the Crow, just notice how you feel and your reasons for why you think you aren’t able to do it. Is this your attitude in other areas of your life? Are you afraid of taking risks to shine? My advice for your first Crow, put a pillow or blanket out in front of you and GO FOR IT. If you fall on your face into the pillow, so what?

Below is my original video on the Crow Pose.