Bikram Yoga's Standing Bow Pulling Posture 

Also try pressing the floating hip down and see how this effects your posture. When performed correctly there is an outward "springy-ness" that forms within the loop of the grabbing arm and kicking leg... Imagine the way a hula-hoop resists when you try to collapse it, that is the same tension you are trying to create in the spine, grabbing arm, and kicking leg. I usually encourage people to lead the movement with the kick first and *then* press the chest toward the floor, with the heart leading the descent. This introduces the effort of the kick before the balancing becomes more challenging. Ideally the torso comes nearly parallel in relationship with the ground, rolling sixty percent of the weight into the ball of the foot will help to drop your chest another inch or so as you kick the leg even higher.. =)

@AnnaDenise77 OUR ADVICE: Work with these concepts in mind when doing the posture. If you fall, you fall, just get back in and keep training your mind to concentrate. Kick with muscles in your back you've never felt before and don't just go where your flexibility will take you and rest, keep super engaged! Yyour blood will filter back to the side you were kicking with and the deepest cells of your body will be nourished and revitalized... at the end of the day, that's what we're after.

@AnnaDenise77 This is a good question. When you're in the posture, in the "heat of the moment", it's sometimes hard to figure it out, and you're feeling so many sensations! It's important to remember that once you start the Bow Pulling Posture, stretch forward with one arm and kick the foot back with all your strength. Push it back smoothly, don't jerk it and push the foot out powerfully against your cupped hand. The arm and shoulder of the kicking side should be relaxed. (more....)

@ENormanly If you're still in London I can recommend Ky Ha's classes/advanced-level workshops at bikramyogalondon, Canary Wharf. If you're in north London, you might like to try bikramyogaprimrosehill. Finally, if you would like to sample a different form of hot yoga, I strongly recommend yogahaven, Clapham: their hot flow yoga classes in particular provide me with a fresh challenge to intersperse with Bikram classes I do elsewhere. Next time I'm in NY, I'll try your bikramyogamanhattan studio.

@AnnaDenise77 Creating this tension of kicking and reaching is what keeps you in the posture, and what improves innate balance in the whole body. Falling is typical and it's something we all have to do to improve. Always, we fall because of a disruption of this balanced tension of kicking and reaching, push pull. If you are very flexible, contrary to popular belief, yoga is actually harder. To do the postures and to get the medical benefits, highly flexible people have to work harder. (more..)

I like the video you did. I understand better. Can you make a video explaining Padangustasana (Toe stand pose)? Mario

I loved this video!! Honest! :)).. Its so important to never give up..I really liked what you said and picked up loads of encouragement from it :)) bless ya ..am subscribin ! Lol xX

is it normal for the arm holding my ankle to get pins and needles (almost like it's falling asleep?)

@delacote60 We would love to have you when you visit NYC!