Only For The Bendiest Of Us
You know downward dog, you know tree pose, you know child’s pose - but have you ever heard of twisted bow? Or flying pigeon pose? If you’re not well-versed in yoga terminology, it’s unlikely that you have. These positions are the ones not often taught on YouTube yoga classes, instead being searched out by yoga fans who have a couple of years under their belt.
Chevanon Photography on Pexels
1. Chin Stand
A precursor to the handstand or headstand, this pose is exactly what it sounds like. It requires you to balance your body with your arms, core, and the bottom part of your head. This position gives you a great stretch in the throat, chest, wrists, and biceps.
2. Twisted Bow
It might not look hard, but try to get into it! A twisted bow pose requires you to lie on your stomach, grabbing your left leg with your right hand and your right leg with your left, while keeping your shoulders off the ground.
3. Crow Pose
Also known as the crane pose, this challenging position demands top-notch core and arm strength. It asks you to balance your knees on your triceps while keeping your feet off the ground.
4. Compass Pose
If you’re looking to work on your hamstring flexibility, this is the pose for you. From a seated position, bring a leg behind your shoulder, stretching it out entirely by holding it with the opposite hand. It doesn’t look very graceful, but it's certainly impressive!
lululemon athletica on Wikimedia
5. Forearm Hollow Back Pose
This pose requires some serious core strength, requiring you to keep your legs suspended above your body to a point where it looks like you could fall over at any second. While it’s a great stretch for your shoulders, it can take some time to get acquainted with this difficult position.
6. Scorpion Pose
Almost like the previous position, you must balance your entire body on your forearms while creating a counterbalance with your hips and legs. This pose will increase spine flexibility, but is difficult to master.
7. Boat Pose
Maybe more commonly known as V-Sits, boat pose is a core-strengthening exercise that asks you to balance entirely on your sitting bones. Here, you must keep your toes pointed high and your chest upright, with arms extended in front or above your head.
8. Flying Pigeon Pose
This standing position involves sliding one leg to sit above your elbows while the other leg extends far into the air, all while balancing on your hands. It’s considered a great hip-opening exercise, while it also strengthens parts of your upper body.
9. Eight-Angle Pose
If you’ve ever wanted to look like a clamshell, this is the pose to do so. Balancing on your hands, you must hover your legs to the side, with one arm threaded through your legs. This pose requires a high amount of arm, shoulder, core, and side-body strength.
10. Half Moon Pose
It might not look difficult, but it can be hard to master without some balance. The half moon pose requires balancing with the same leg and arm, while the rest of your body reaches high to the sky. It’s a good stretch for your chest and biceps.
11. King Dancer Pose
Often seen in competitive dances, the king dancer pose requires pulling a foot as close to your head as possible. It needs some serious glute strength and balance, but it can be a huge hip-opening position.
12. Scale Pose
To begin this pose, sit in lotus position. Once you’re feeling well established, you can push your body off the ground with your hands, feeling strong in your core, glutes, and shoulders.
13. Two-Legged Inverted Staff Pose
Somewhat of a precursor to the forearm hollow back pose, this pose is essentially the same, just with one leg on the ground. While still difficult, this pose does allow you to practice this backbend position and get used to the feeling of learning how to balance your weight.
14. Plow Pose
She may not be graceful or look difficult, but the plow pose is a great stretch for the entire back half of your body. To complete this pose, you must fold your legs behind your head, stacking your hips and shoulders on top of each other. The important thing to remember here is to breathe.
15. Firefly Pose
You’re getting little to no support on this one. A firefly pose asks you to balance on your hands with your legs stretched out in a straddle-like position. You must have an incredibly strong core and shoulders, as well as full-body stability.
LYUvivekkarangiya on Wikimedia
16. Mermaid Pose
This twisty pose will help you to open up your hips and upper back, while stretching your quads. In pigeon pose, you must pull your back leg up to sit in the crook of your elbow while joining your hands together behind your head.
lululemon athletica on Wikimedia
17. Upward Rooster Pose
Similar to the crow pose or scale pose, the upward rooster pose requires you to sit cross-legged while balancing on your hands. This time, however, your hands are in front of your legs rather than beside.
Robert Bejil. Find me also on: BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ on Wikimedia
18. Standing Hand to Big Toe
Another contemporary dancer staple, this pose asks you to pull one leg up and over to the side of your body while balancing on the other leg. This not only works your flexibility, but is also an excellent stretch for the inner thighs.
19. Handstand Pose
We mean, how much more difficult can a handstand be than just being able to do it on your own? Being able to do a self-sufficient handstand is already an incredible feat, even if it doesn’t look as flourished as some of these poses.
20. Standing Compass Pose
Similar to standing hand to big toe, this pose asks you to bring your leg up even further. It’s the same as the aforementioned compass pose, but now you must balance on one leg. Good luck!
KEEP ON READING
10 Pre-Workout & 10 Post-Workout Tips To Follow
