Oh Baby, Baby Crow – Grasp Your Hands Steadiness Yoga Pose!
Do you want to learn the coolest arm balance pose out there, but don't want to put the pressure on your wrists? If yes, then you have come to the right place! Today we will be discussing Bala Kakasana, also known as Baby Crow, and how it is the perfect pose for you! We will explore how this pose strengthens your arms and prepares you for forearm standing. All of this without subjecting your wrists to the strain of fully supporting your bodyweight! Get ready to master the Baby Crow Balance Pose with laughter and fun!
Table of Contents
- 1. Get Ready for Balakakasana with Proper Preparation
- 2. Get Set with the Right Alignment & Position
- 3. Go! Leveraging the Power of Engaged Abs
- 4. Conquer Baby Crow and Level Up Your Arm Balance Confidence
- Q&A
- Insights and Conclusions
1. Get Ready for Balakakasana with Proper Preparation
Get ready for Bala Kakasana with proper preparation! This arm balance is often overlooked as it's not seen very often in classes, but trust us - it is super cool to practice! Before you give it a shot, however, you need to warm up your body. An easy way to prepare for this posture is to take opposite hands to opposite elbow, and flatten the palms and forearms down. This ensures the arms will be at the correct width when you come into the pose.Once you are ready, choose a spot on the mat to kneel down. Place your forearms down where you have set them up, making sure your arms are shoulder-width apart. Move your knees to the outside of the tops of the arms, near the armpit, and then lean forward. Take your gaze forward, and lift one foot. Balanced the bodyweight on your arms and the other foot, and squeeze your heels into your butt to complete the posture.What makes Bala Kakasana such a special arm balance is that it does not place any pressure or strain on the wrists - the weight in the pose is distributed across the forearms. Plus, it will help you build strength for other postures, such as forearm stands. To recap:- Set yourself up: take opposite hands to opposite elbow, and flatten the palms and forearms down.
- Kneel down: move your knees to the outside of the tops of the arms, near the armpit, and then lean forward.
- Lift feet: balanced the bodyweight on your arms and the other foot, and squeeze your heels into your butt to complete the posture.
2. Get Set with the Right Alignment & Position
It's time to get set with the right alignment and position for Baby Crow! Setting up is often the most important part of any yoga pose and it's no different for Bala Kakasana.The first step is to ensure your arms are as wide as the shoulders while your palms are flat on the ground and your forearms down. Then place your knees just outside of your armpits –make sure you're squeezing them in.Now to lift uponto your tiptoes. Don't worry, this isn't a death-defying feat. You'll only be a few inches off the ground. Make sure you're engaging your abdominals, actively bringing the belly towards your spine, and your feet and heels into your butt.And you're all set! Bala Kakasana can help you build the strength you need for even more impressive forearm stands.Plus, it's great if you have wrist issues.Remember warm-up beforehand and you'll be ready for this arm balance:- Arms as wide as the shoulder? Check!
- Palms flat and forearms down? Check!
- Knees squeezed into the armpits? Check!
- Engaged abs? Check!
- Feet and heels into the butt? Check!
3. Go! Leveraging the Power of Engaged Abs
It is an important part of mastering arm balances like Bala Kakasana (or baby crow). This posture gives you a great foundation for working on forearm stand – it allows you to exercise similar building blocks, strengthening your wrists and arms.Here's what you need to get started:- Set up your arms as wide as shoulders.
- Flatten your palms and forearms down.
- Make sure your butt is on the heels.
- Place the knees on the back of the tops of the arms, near the armpit.
- Lean forward and take your gaze off the mat.
4. Conquer Baby Crow and Level Up Your Arm Balance Confidence
Work like a pro! Balakakasana aka baby crow is a great arm balance to practice if you are not yet feeling up to crow pose or dealing with wrist issues. This pose does not involve putting the weight onto the hands, instead the weight is balanced across the whole of the forearm and the hands. Before attempting this pose, make sure to warm up and if you need to review the other videos first, go for it!Start in a kneeling position with your arms as wide as your shoulders and your forearms down. Take your knees to the outside and near the armpit and then lean forward, taking one foot off the mat at a time. Squeezing the heels into your bottom and engaging your abs to bring the belly back towards the spine. You should not be too far off the ground, around a few inches from the mat, so don't worry about faceplanting!- Engage your abdominals: Bringing the belly in and back towards the spine.
- Squeezing the heels into the bottom: Get the feeling of drawing your navel up and up into your spine.
- Gaze forward: Look just off the edge of the mat.
Q&A
Q: What is bala kakasana? A: Bala kakasana, also known as baby crow, is an arm balance which does not require weight to be placed on the wrists. It involves coming into a kneeling position with the arms as wide as the shoulders, and placing the forearms down. Knees should be placed on the tops of the arms near the armpit before leaning forward and taking one foot off the ground, with the other staying in the same position. The gaze should be off the edge of the mat, and the body should be engaged and abdominals brought back towards the spine.To Wrap It Up
We hope this video was helpful as you practice your way to mastering the baby crow. Learning more complex poses can be intimidating, but with the right tools like the ones in this video, you'll be able to conquer the baby crow in no time! Stay safe and remember to have fun while taking time to be gentle with yourself. Namaste!Post Category: Yoga Arm Balances
