Tip of the Week: Corrections for Tuladanasana

This posture looks so simple! But the effort required to keep all the muscles engaged while balancing is much more difficult than one might think. Balancing Stick creates a tourniquet effect on the heart and can even give the feeling of a mini heart attack! Don’t worry. The circulation, elongation, and increased blood flow are amazing for the body. Remember that you have to continuously stretch from fingertips to toes to get the benefits!

Common Problems and Corrections

BENT LEGS:
Balancing Stick is the final posture in the balancing series. As with the other balancing postures, locked knees are a big key. In this instance, BOTH knees should be locked.

LEG TOO HIGH:
Sometimes more flexible students will lift their leg too high. This makes the posture easier!
It’s also incorrect. The leg should remain parallel to the floor.

FALLING FORWARD:
Students must learn to adjust their weight to their forward leg before they pivot at the hips. This will prevent their body from launching forward and often prevent them from falling out of the posture.

COLLAPSED LEGS AND ARMS:
The idea of Balancing stick is to create a straight line. It requires a lot of strength and endurance to keep the correct muscles engaged. When the body collapses or sags, the stretch is lost.

BENT ARMS:
The elbows should be locked just like the knees. This will create more traction on the spine.

EYES LOOKING DOWN:
The key is to look forward, under the hands, toward the mirror. By looking forward, the spine is elongated. Keep your arms and head together and look forward to keep the spine straight.