First attempt at the exit from Viparita Dandasana, FAILWe have Viparita Dandasana in Vinyasa Krama, I'd tried the drop into it from headstand twice before today, still not comfortable with it but it's coming along. Boodiba posted on this a couple of days ago with the kick back up to headstand. I'd thought that was just an ashtanga exit but I checked and it's in VK too ( P168-169 of Ramaswami's complete book of Vinyasa Yoga) no excuse not to try it then.
It's hard , really really hard, won't say anything more about it, this should show you what I mean.
Boodie's comments on the video on Youtube advise against the one leg approach and just to work on the jumping. I think I'll drop into it from my morning headstand for a while and explore, see where I am a couple of weeks from now, besides I like leg raises and can slip in Eka pada Viparita Salabhasana.
Update: Tuesday 19th oct
Tried to take on board some of the suggestions in comments and give it another go today. This time though I wanted to break it down, try to get the motion forward to carry the legs up that Stu talks about. Kind of reminds me of coming up from urdhva danurasana, that getting the pelvis up and forward, sort of an upside down version of that.
I'm using the wall to push off and try and find the catch point to take it back up to headstand, trying to work further and further down the wall too. It's coming on, fear's gone, all starting to make more sense. I think next time I want to get parallel to the wall and have my feet right in the corner so I'm on the floor but also have the wall to push against to get the direction. yesterday I was think no way, today I'm thinking, yeah, maybe.
2ND UPDATE Wednesday 20th
I'd thought about starting another post on this for this mornings attempt but the tips from Boodie and Stu in the comment section are so good that I want to keep everything together.
Taken on board Boodies comments this morning that I should rely less on the wall and just work on the hopping, walking in as close as I can. The wall has been useful though, reminds you that it's a forward motion your after rather than just an upward motion. The lifting of the head that both Boodie and Stu are talking about seems to bare this out. I think I want to hop my hips just a little further over my shoulders, the lifting the head and pushing the chest forward seem to be about bringing the shoulders forward so there is less distance to hop. The screenshot above is of the best hop away from the wall so far, seems to be just a case of courage and timing now, think perhaps I'm still being a little over cautious and need to just go for it.
Watched the video Boodie posted again when I got in, I'm getting the forward motion when I push off the wall but as soon as I do it without the wall I start hopping up and down like a drunk shrimp which isn't going to get me anywhere. Tried to copy B's leg motion this evening and it was a little better, think it's just coordination and timing now. Going to lay off for a couple of days as I don't want to over do it then work on the pushing off the wall for a couple of days to try and get that fixed in muscle memory then come at this again Sunday.
UPDATE 21st Dec 2011
came back to this yesterday for a Vinyasa krama post and managed to get the hop back over, seemed to be all about the getting the chest forward and low, remembering where you were just as you dropped and then try to get back to that some point before hopping up.
UPDATE 21st Dec 2011
came back to this yesterday for a Vinyasa krama post and managed to get the hop back over, seemed to be all about the getting the chest forward and low, remembering where you were just as you dropped and then try to get back to that some point before hopping up.
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13 comments:
Love the laugh! It's like you're suddenly realizing that it's harder than it looks. I've never attempted this pose, nor the exit of course, so the laugh says it all for me!
Thanks for posting this... Nice to see the struggles along with the successes. I'm sure you'll get the exit soon enough!
Yes looks really hard! The coming back part, I would be begging for a wall... Somehow i feel like trying...but probably won't... And you wait and see, i also have a fail coming my way, actually you've seen the video already.... We will laugh at this 10 years from now, or so I wish
Ha! Your laugh made me laugh. Love those humbling moments on the mat.
Try pulling your elbows in much tighter with this one - a bit closer than you'd have them from Sirsana 1.
You'll get much more stability that way and it'll open up the upper back more.
Makes coming back up to headstand much easier - also have a play at it with the head lifted (pincha style arms), i find this easier as its a bit more open.
Stu
Thanks Stephanie, wasn't going to post it on the blog but it was such a fail that it kind of demanded exposure. I think your right about the laugh, it was kind of a "what were you thinking" laugh.
The wall's a problem Claudia, you need enough space to drop into it but then be close enough to walk back up. I've walked down the wall into it and back up which is useful for proving that your body will go into it without breaking.
yes looking forward to that post : )
Me too MY, we should all have little senators on our mat's whispering "Remember thou art human" like the Emperor's of old to protect us from hubris, perhaps I'll see if i can get a little bust of Cicero on ebay.
Thanks Stu. Boodie mentioned lifting the head too, will try pulling in the elbows too, think I'm going to have fun with this.
Every asana looks easy when someone is able to do it.
But it is so good to see how difficult some asanas are. Thank you for showing this.
The path is the goal.....hahaha.
I think it is great to get into the pose. It needs a lot of courage.
one other thing to add with these tick tocky things - forget about the legs and focus on pumping the chest/heart through instead.
If you do this the legs just kinda get carried over by the momentum. It's much harder when you focus primarily on the legs and try and actually kick them over
Very true Ursula, Boodie made it look, if not easy, then doable.
thanks again Stu, had another go tonight and updated the post with a new video, coming along, it's fun I like it, always been a fan of the floaty stuff.
Wow you worked hard! It IS a lot of work. Sometimes I fall back into back bending. Sometimes I wave up at the top, while catching my balance. Sometimes I miss it.
I'd say... you don't need the wall for the descent. You're past that point. Just go up & over & if you need to scoot either way once landed to use it as an assist coming back that's not hard to do. (I don't this from my days of bracing my toes, once landed, to get the legs really, fully, completely straight.)
When you're trying hops from the floor, get on your tippie toes and walk in closer, so you can see them. Pick your head off the floor. Spend a couple breaths pushing through you chest, using your legs. You can do it!
The five or six days I struggled to flip, I'd hop madly til exhausted, then I'd come down & rest on my back. Spend more time hopping & you'll flip it sans wall very soon. The flip is the first part & the catching mid way the 2nd.
That's just my opinion as of now but I can ask John or Chris if you want me to :)
Oh one other thing... if you're not doing standard 3rd - all the poses - before hand than make sure you're very warm. It's the first back bend in 3rd, but there's the opening run of all the LBH, the 3 Urdhva Kukkus and all the arm balances before. It helps to be warm to learn this vinyasa!
i keep remembering tit bits of advice for this one... This one regarding the bit when lowering into it from headstand.
Once you've initiated the backbend and have scorpion legs, try sliding the head so your weight is more towards the forehead than the crown of the head. This will put a slight curve in the neck and allow the backbend to go a lot deeper before you tip over
Thanks so much Boodie, Stu, tried to take this on board this morning, couldn't resist giving it another try. Getting closer. I'll be doing 2nd series tonight so should be much more warmed up so see how it goes. Not doing that lifting the head and pushing through the chest for a couple of breaths that you mention B, will try that tonight, try to see my toes too, must be close.
Thanks for the bit about dropping back Stu, at he moment I'm lifting my head right at the last moment, doesn't feel that controlled, will try lifting it sooner. Shame I have to work today
Finally got it, had to practice it for a post, first time in ages. have posted an update with a video.
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