Bakasana

‘Baka’ meaning ‘crane’ and ‘asana’ meaning ‘pose’ in sanskrit, Crane/Crow pose is an arm balance in which the hands are planted on the ground, fingers are wide & gripping the ground, the knees or shins are resting on top of the upper arm, and the feet are hovering off the ground. This asana really strengthens the shoulders, wrists, arms, hands, and even the abdomen. In bakasana we are performing flexion of the thoracic spine, scooping the belly into the inner body, and abduction of the scapulae. And bringing the legs into adduction, to hug the knees to the sides of the upper arms. Regular practice of Bakasana requires us to trust in ourselves and trust in the strength of our arms to hold us up & support us.