✋ This is a very intense posture. I wouldn’t suggest you to start your first yoga class learning this posture. Wait until you have some body awareness and strength before attempting this posture. Many yoga systems (Including Iyengar yoga) use this posture to transition from one posture to another during the Sun Salutations or a Flow sequences. This posture can be practiced and learned individually without been part of a sequencing . 💪This posture strengthens the arms, wrists , spinal and abdominal muscles and tones the abdominal organs. It prepare us for backward extensions. But it can cause shoulders, wrists injury if you don’t approach this posture in a safe way. 🛑If you already have a wrist and shoulder condition, you have to ask for advise before practicing this posture.
Building up strength in the arms and shoulders with correct alignment of the torso can lead to maintain the pose with no support. Thank you @lois_steinberg for putting together your experience of many years learning and teaching Iyengar yoga. The booklet “The neck and shoulders” it is very helpful.
These are only pictures, to learn more about the actions of each one of these variations you need to read the booklet or ask your Iyengar teacher. There are many more other kinds of variations that we can practice this posture.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this info for my mission.
The links for the books I used as a reference: #affiliatelink
* https://amzn.to/45z3mjo – The Key Poses of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume II, Ray Long
* https://amzn.to/3qja8JT – Yoga Anatomy – Leslie Kaminoff
* https://amzn.to/45wBTPn – Iyengar Yoga Asana Alternatives: the Neck and Shoulders – Lois Steinberg
Sorry for the very late reply, I added the books I have used for it.