Not unlike finding the "power alley" when lowering and exploding a barbell down and up with control and elegance during Bench Presses in the Iron Temple, learning to do an ultra light and symmetrically powerful Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose... aka; Yogi Push Up) relies upon Conscious Practice. One reason why i created the HP Yoga PROP WORKOUT is to help train the internal locks by way of Direct Kinesthetic Experience instead of merely mental stabbing away at them. I also rely upon the traditional Chaturanga Dandasana which is performed by levering out onto the toes from the bottom position of the Chaturanga and back again. in my LA Yoga Studio, my students used to call these dastardly fun authentic Chaturangas, "Ilgarandas"! i don't know why contemporary Teachers seem to sidestep the Ancient Version because in doing so, they limit their students grasp of the internal locks.
Chaturanga's, especially done in the HP Yoga Prop Workouts, impart huge functional strength to most parts of the body and are especially useful in transferring over into outdoor forms of yoga like rock climbing. Shown above; cashing in some Chaturanga merit while finishing a boulder problem the other morning across the street at West Elden rock climbing area. i'm dressed in cycling clothes not because i want to look like and feel like Spidey while climbing (which, truth be told, i do!) but rather because i combined a Mountain Bike Ride with bouldering; perhaps my favorite Wholistic Fitness Duathlon!
photo one; waynewilliamsstudio.com excerpted from my HP Yoga PROP WORKOUT DVD.
photo two; by ananda
below i answer a question from Pakti Dass regarding Chaturanga execution:
READ TODAY's DL FOR THE ENTIRE TEACHING BY AMERICA's OUTDOOR ATHLETE AND MOUNTAIN YOGI; Coach ilg!!!
