Featured Asana

At the last SOYA Teacher Training Intensive in Scotch Creek, instructor Carla Wilkie taught the students a pose called Wild Thing. A very fun pose, and good preparation for moving into Urdhva Dhanurasana, (Wheel). It is advised to prepare the body before moving into an advanced pose such as this. A nice backbend such as Bhujangasana, (Cobra), and Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, (Brigde) to open up the chest and loosen the spine. Trikonasana, (Triangle) for a good side stretch. Stretching out the thighs with Virabhadrasana I, (Warrior I) and a balance pose like Ardha Chandrasana, (Half Moon), will all help before going into this asana.

Before doing anything, make sure you have enough room around you to do this pose. You will end up well off your mat when you are finished.
Starting off in table top, and preparing to come up into Svanasana, (Down Dog). Make sure arms are underneath shoulders, fingers spread wide, bottom of hand planted into the mat and knees are under the hips. Lift knees off the floor and with bent knees move the buttocks back as far as possible then straighten legs, but keep soft knees in the downdog pose.

Take a few breaths here, focusing and relaxing yourself. Alternate bending each knee, to loosen up the calves and hamstrings. This is called "walking the dog."

With awareness, lift one leg up and flip it over so that you can see the bottom of the foot over the opposite shoulder. Don't look at this foot when rolling over to Wild Thing, go back to looking down at the floor. Take a few breaths, and focus on the moves to come.

Shifting your weight to the opposite leg and arm of the raised leg, raise same arm as raised leg and slowly begin to revolve the body looking for the ground with the raised leg. When both feet are on the ground, find a comfortable position for the neck. Usually tilted straight back is best. Adjust, relax and have fun with the pose.

Precautions:
Do not do if suffering from headache, migraine, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Not recommended if recovering from heart attack or hernia.
There is quite a bit of stress on the shoulder and wrist of the weight bearing arm. Do not do if you have weak shoulders and wrists.
Be careful if you have a sore neck.

Benefits:
Increased lung capacity, encourages healthy thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal functions.
Improves blood circulation to organs.
Tones muscles of back and spine.

Modifications:
This pose can be done from a standing position, for people with High Blood pressure or weak wrists and shoulders, or for people who don't have the body strength to do this pose.
Stand next to a wall, about a half an arms length away.
Reach out with the arm and touch the wall lightly with your hand. Your hand can be at shoulder height or as high as the top of your head, the hand is just there to give you stability.
Keeping your hand on the wall, and leaving your other arm by your side, rotate the body so your back is to the wall and your arm is raised over your shoulder.
You can now start to lower the hand and move slowly away from the wall, creating a nice curve to the lower back and a nice stretch the thighs and upperbody.

Disclaimer: Yoga articles on various techniques of yoga are submitted from various sources and independent teachers. We recommend you seek personal instruction from a qualified Yoga Teacher in all aspects of yoga, including these articles. Never move into pain, and always check with your doctor if you have any questions or health concerns regarding your ability to do any yoga technique. By engaging in the practices described or any other material on this website, you agree to do so at your own risk, and therefore personally assume all responsibility