My yoga journey started in the month of January 2015. I was in the middle of an inconsistent workout plan. I wasn’t strong, I could barely run and I struggled to keep myself motivated every evening after a long day at work. But I tried, I tried hard to be fit and change my lifestyle.
I don’t remember what triggered me to move towards yoga but within few weeks of my first Suryanamaskar I found myself spending 60 to 90 minutes every evening practicing and learning new yoga asanas in the comforts of my apartment. My source of knowledge were articles on the internet and YouTube videos by Kino Yoga, Sarah Beth Yoga and Yoga by Candance. I was very careful and didn’t try to push myself too hard for the fear of injuring myself.
The journey to balancing started with very basic beginner poses like the tree pose and the tilting tree pose. And even then it took me few weeks to learn to stay still in a Vkrasana for a couple of breaths.
I spent the first few months working on my flexibility and core strength. Planks used to make me cry. I would fall with every side plank (Vasisthasana) I tried to do. And Chaturanga Dandasana (low plank) was an impossibility. My arms didn’t have enough strength to hold the weight of my body. The only thing that helped me was Persistence. I kept trying. Slowly I was able to transition from Downward-dog to Chaturanga Dandasana to cobra. I practiced different Hatha Yoga poses and sequences – starting with Suryanamaskar, moving on to standing leg stretches, seated stretches, backbends and in the end, inversion.
And then in about 5 months time I held my first ever proper Bakasana. Bakasana isn’t just about arm strength, it requires core strength and a correct gaze. I was a slow learner but I learnt.
I started practicing more Bakasanas and baby bakasana to increase my core strength. I had also started learning inversions, and tripod-stand was one of the first inversions I learnt.
Learning Handstands
My most awesome magical moment was when I did my first handstand in early 2016. It took a long time for me to get there, but I felt a great sense of achievement. I have never been involved in any sports that required strength or balancing. Handstand is something that I thought would never be possible by someone like me. Most days, at the end of my practice, I would jump near the wall at least 50 times, with hope that maybe my legs will lift and hit the wall. It continued for over 7-8 months before I could finally hold a handstand. As I said, the key is persistence.
I fell – A LOT. Thankfully, my previous house had carpet flooring, so no damages were done, except for a few broken clothes-line and some chairs too 🙂
I still can’t hold a handstand without wall support, but I am learning.
Yoga hollowback handstand variation
After that I started exploring other arm balances like Side crow and Fallen Angel. Fallen Angel looks totally weird but it is way easier than some other arm balances. I learnt this pose from a Youtube Video by Sarabethyoga – link
Similarly, I loved the tips that Sarah shared on her channel for Side crow. I felt side crow is slightly easier than Bakasana, if you know where to place your knees.
You would be surprised how differently each side of the body responds. Strangely, I am very awkward on my right side, even though I am a right handed person. I have to put safety cushions around me whenever I repeat the pose on the right side.
3 Tips for Arm balances
Be Patient – This is going to be a long journey. And if like me, you are doing it all alone, then patience is a necessity. Our body can do amazing things, things that will leave you surprised. Love it, let it grow, don’t let ego get hold of it.
Strengthen your Core – You would need a strong core to lift and maintain balance. Plank poses and Navasana (boat pose) help in increasing the abdominal muscle strength.
Flexibility – If you are able to hold a plank position well enough, then along with core strength, you would also need flexibility to do arm balances. Asanas like Astavakrasana (8 Angle pose), even Bakasana, require hip flexibility just to get the knee over the tricep. Low lunge, Lizard pose, Cradling the leg like a baby are great poses to improve hip flexibility – link
I really hope this post is helpful to anyone who is on their arm balancing journey. Keep practicing.
Stay strong and humble 🙂
Amazing – just visited your blog for the first time and I love the way you have explained it. I used to do suryanamaskar regularly and then quit midway and I have been thinking of getting back to it. Your post has given me the much-needed boost. But one of the things i have always struggled with while doing yoga is arm balance and also breathing sequence. Your tips on both would be most appreciated, thanks in advance.
Rajlakshmi the tips are very helpful and it demands patience, discipline, courage and perseverance. I had an amazing yoga class for one hour and grateful to my Guru. Sometimes, I forget the asanas when I practice at home.
WoW! The flexibility you show is incredible and love cobra asana lot, lying on my stomach and doing it. Keep sharing, Rajlakshmi.
YOU are the most amazing, inspiring, most fantastic person I have ever seen on my fitness journey. I love your point about persistence. And your poses are incredible. I STILL have hope that I can achieve even a fraction of that in the years to come. Lovely post!
Fascinating journey, Raj. I haven’t done arm stands but I can relate to the tips of strengthening your core and flexibility. Also, with changing and meditation, Yoga helps me with stress and calming my nerves.
Yes, it feels so relaxing after a session 😀 Thank you 😀
Wow, Raj! That looks amazing – and I love that you are so honest about it – yes- a lot of hard work for sure! Even more impressive and inspiring to see you Get There!! Yaaaay for you – hats off sweetie:-)
thank you so much 😀 It’s going to be a long journey 😀 Glad you liked the post
Dude…when I went on a hiatus, you where into Yoga I agree…but this is awesome! Kudos to you. Such strength
OMG you are here… you are back… I am so excited to see you back… And congratulations my dear 😀
I’ve been trying arm balances for quite a while, but my core doesn’t let me do that yet.
Now, I’m focusing on strengthening my core. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do both soon.
once your core is strong, you are going to rock all the arm balances 😀
Yodabest!! Really quite unimaginable for me but still I applaud greatness when I see it! Perseverance does pay!
thank you so much my dear 😀 really happy to read your comment 😀
You are an inspiration to scores of people here, you know that, girl! Take a bow, sweetie!
awww thank you so much for saying that… 😀 just trying my best 😀
You soooooo…. inspire me Rajalekshmi! God Bless you
awww thank youuuu so much 😀 😀
You are amazing Raj! I just love your yoga poses. I have been doing yoga for 3 years now. I am quite flexible but still I have a long way to go. I can do a kakasana but can hold for only a few seconds. I need help with my sirsasana too. Someone just to hold my feet, that’s it. I have a long way to go. I am inspired by you!
me too, I too have long way to go. So happy to know you too are yoga practitioner 😀 Thanks for stopping by 😀
Loved reading this. What I find so amazing is that you have done your yoga journey all by yourself by reading articles and seeing videos. Most people usually take classes. Doing it on your own requires immense self motivation and perseverance.
Thank you so much Ruchira. I find the youtube tutorials very helpful and they have so much information if you find the right ones 😀 I wanted to attend a class but time and distance is a big factor, so I just started on my own 🙂
You are amazing and inspiring and of course gravity defying. It is unliveable that you could learn so much from the Net without a teacher of any kind.
hehehe someone once called me DIY person 😛 thank you so much 😀
You are an example for all of us Raj. I know the power of Yoga and have practiced it intermittently. I so wish to be get back to it and every time I read your posts, I am so inspired.
glad to know you are practicing yoga 😀 it feels amazing doesn’t it 😀
Thank you so much
I am always in awe of you, Raj. I have tried and failed many times at Yoga, and my excuse has always been – I have to do it alone, and I don’t know where to begin.
Reading this post has inspired me to start again, even if I am going at it alone. But there is so much to do, so much to learn, that I don’t even know where to begin.
Yes, so much to do and so much to learn, but just one step is enough to get the momentum running 😀 Hope you get back to your routine 😀
Looking at yourr pics,I always thought you have been doing yoga all your life. I am super duper impressed to know you started on your own and that also a few years back. Hats off to you for your preserverence and will power. I am inspired to begin too; will take tips on the videos you have been following. I sincerely think you should start a yoga blog for beginners – I would be a very regular reader there.
Thank you so much 😀 I am still learning every day. I like your idea of a new blog. I will definitely think about it 😀
Wow, awesome! Loved seeing the pictures of you doing yoga, especially the one where you’re on the skateboard 🙂
Kathrin — http://mycupofenglishtea.wordpress.com
thank you so much. Welcome to my blog 😀