Side Crow Pose, demonstrated by Karen Watson Reeves, strengthens the upper body, especially arms, wrists, and shoulders. Photo by Fred Padilla.
By Karen Watson Reeves
A few months ago, I shared the benefits of Crow Pose, one of the first arm balances most students attempt. There are many similarities in the benefits and many of the same strong emotions. Arm balances can be scary. . . most of us prefer to have both feet on the ground. There is always a fear of falling. But as in any intimidating thing we master, there is empowerment in achieving the goal.
A major difference between the two arm balance poses is that Side Crow includes a twist, thus shifting the center of gravity. That does not make it more difficult; it just makes it different. Besides all the muscles that have to work to achieve lift-off, the practitioner needs to keep an open and positive mind, a focused concentration, and deep, even breathing. Those are benefits that can help us in whatever difficult thing we are facing.
The specific physical benefits include strengthening the upper body, especially the arms, wrists, and shoulders. The triceps perhaps have the biggest job, working against gravity to keep your body lifted. The abdominal muscles are strengthened as they must keep the center of the body lifted and rotated in the twist. The hip flexors are engaged to flex the hip and keep the knees lifted.
And a really cool thing about this pose is that while one side is being strengthened, the other side is being stretched in those same muscles. A great reason to practice the pose on both sides!
(And in a side note, the blooper photos of this pose were hilarious, and a tourist from Dallas even joined me for a photo. Shoot me a message, and I’ll share the funny photos.)
Karen Watson Reeves has called Hot Springs home since 2006. Owner of The Yoga Place, at 301 Whittington Avenue, she became a registered yoga/children’s yoga teacher in 2011. She is on the Hot Springs YMCA teaching staff and is an adjunct instructor at National Park College. When not on the mat, Karen enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the National Park, especially from her bicycle. For more information about her studio and for her schedule of classes, visit www.theyogaplacehs.com.
