The quest for the spacious wheel can be quite daunting when you are new to yoga.
I remember when I was new to yoga. I would already dread the expected wheel (urdha dhanurasana) towards the end of class. My hands would start sweating just thinking about it. As soon as I hear the teacher say, ‘come onto your back, set up for bridge pose’; my whole body would tense up. I would force my body and my back used to pain so much. It felt horrible.
Coming down I would quickly look to see if anybody noticed my pathetic attempt. I hated backbends so much! I was never flexible in my back and all the hours I spend in front of my computer certainly doesn’t help!
It took me years before I started falling in love with backbends. Especially the notorious urdhva dhanurasana, which actually means upward facing bow pose. I like calling it wheel. It symbolises that there is no end or beginning to this pose. It continues forever and there will never be a destination. Forever caught in a loop of impossible possibilities.
Wheel is now one of my favourite postures and I believe I found the nectar to this sweet yoga posture!
Rule number 1: Breathe! As deep down as you can.
2: Remember the earth is your friend, stand strong!
3: Daily practice will lead to progress. Don’t force it.
4: Keep practicing
5: And continue practicing
6: Again and again…
