Wild Thing Pose, Camatkarasana is a class favorite! Yogis love Wild Thing because they feel like a rockstar using the strength and fire of an arm balance with the compassion and openness of a backbend.
Benefits:
Stretches the chest, shoulders, hip flexors and quads. Strengthens the shoulders and upper back. Is energerigizing so may help with mild depression and fatigue.
How to:
- Start in downward facing dog, with hands slightly wider than the shoulders
- Lift the right leg up to the sky. Keep the hips square to the mat, right shoulder reaching back and down and right toes flexed down to the mat.
- Shift forward to a 3 legged plank keeping hips inline with shoulders and the right leg lifted and engaged.
- Bend the right knee.
- Shift your weight into your left palm as you rotate to the outer edge of the left foot.
- Lift your right hand as you release the ball of the right foot to the ground behind you. Legs are hip width apart, left leg extended and right knee bent.
- Place your right palm on your chest or extend it overhead.
- Spin the left bicep forward wrapping the left shoulder blade on the back to open the chest.
- Lift the hips and press the tips of the shoulder blades into the back of the heart.
- Hold and breathe evenly for 3-5 breaths.
- To release, come back through plank, lower the knees to mat and take rest in Childs Pose, Balasana. Repeat on the other side.
Modify it:
Modify this pose by bending and releasing the extended leg knee to the mat. If it is too much on the supporting arm shoulder and/or wrist try placing the hand ahead of the shoulder rather than directly underneath.