Tips for Side Crow

[ZaraW]

This is one pose I'be never got to grips with. I've watched countless online demos and my teacher has showed me how it should be done but I can't do it. I can do a pretty good crow but when it comes to the side variation forget it, anyone else have the same issues?

I'm just coming to grips with crow but would be interested to hear any tips for side crow, too.

CoteDAzur good luck with Crow. I tried using a block to get my thighs up higher and it was slightly better still a long way to go! It's all part of the journey ....

Well I'm a bit rusty as I'm 37w pregnant, but this is how I do/did it...

SQuat down, feet n knees together, arms extended in front.
swivel torso to one side, tuck opposite elbow into fleshy crease near knee.
Lean over and plant hands on matt...will need to be quite a bit wider than normal crow.
transfer weight to hands (sometimes a bit of momentum is required).
Hopefully feet will leave floor..don't be in a rush to extend legs.
key seems to be finding sweet spot in elbow/knee crease position...it can be v uncomfortable when wrong.

Practice, practice and develop upper body strength...good luck

I have one dodgy wrist, so crow isn't easy for me. Still, I have come a long way and can now stay in crow for about two seconds

5hell thanks that's a great help. My feet leave the floor but I think I need to tip forward more and also bend the elbows. I'll keep working at it.

I know crow is going to work as it feels right as soon as I get my hands and legs in the correct position hopefully that will be the case with side variation.

CotrDAzur that's great once I worked out placement crow became much easier, have you tried it with a block that extra height really helped me.

Have you found any poses which are preparation for side crow - maybe work on those first?

Cece thanks yes I found information in yoga journal I have no problem with the prep.

Never tried side crow. I'm weirdly good at crow so I'll have to give it a go. I'll report back from A&E later .

meglett

Meg LOL good luck hopefully you'll do better than me :)

How do you suggest I use the block? Under my feet, I assume, to leave from higher ground but that sounds like a good way to land on my nose.

Yes it helps getting into the pose easier. Put a cushion in front of you if you fall on your face that happened to me a few times it won't hurt. Check you tube there are some good tutorials.

Lots of prep poses here

Ooh that block under the head looks useful! I can pretty easily go into tripod headstand from my knees on elbows. This should help. Thank you cece

I managed a bit of a pathetic side crow for a couple of seconds by looking forward , chatarunga arms, using my block for extra height and really tipping forward... Thanks everyone :)

Photos?

I'm not hopeful, but if any of you have experience with this sort of thing, I would love to have your thoughts.

Trust me you don't want to see photos my cat was extremely alarmed after my efforts :)

Not as alarmed as you will be if I post a picture of my arms (see link)

It feels like a good time to post again re yoga & cats

That link is so funny :)

Hopefully you'll get some good advice on modifications.

We did a very tricky arm balance this morning in class. I am very much a beginner for it but felt pleased to have got my bottom off of the floor. Unfortunately not my legs though!

think it was this one

Goodness. Did you actually do that pose cece?

Ah astavrkasana (sp! ?) cece ...it's a good'Un when u get it :)
...clamp the legs around your elbow to help lift legs too

No here near sadly.

We had to hook one leg over top of arm as close to shoulder a possible. Second leg was straight in front of us. Managed that.

Then hands down on floor. Managed that.

Then lift bottom off the ground. That's as far as I got... well I did overlap legs to the side but then couldn't lift up! LOL Think that one will take some time.

You did good not sure I would ever be able to do that!