Favorite/Least favorite poses

yoginimary

I posted this awhile back, but with all the new faces, I would like to know your favorite and least favorite poses.

My dislikes are navasana (boat) and lolasana (pendant pose). I really enjoy anything stretchy like upavista konasana (wide-legged forward bend) as well as backbends and the other arm balances.


This is totally selfish. I'm working on a class sequence on aversion and desire (two impediments on the path in yogic philosophy). I've been working on poses I dislike so much, I'm not sure I dislike them anymore.

lcyama

my favourite poses are ardha chandrasana and supta baddha konasana. something about simultaneously opening up the heart and hips.

my "challenge" poses are parivrtta trikonasana and any arm balances (besides handstand against a wall). i always feel like i am going to topple over. i have not yet mastered halasana or shoulderstand unless done with a chair -- i tend to get tired and buckle, making it hard to breathe.

namaste!

dan95130

I don't like revolved triangle pose. It just feels like I'm on the edge of a serious back injury. Favorite poses change as I learn difficult poses but of basic poses that I've been doing since I started practicing, shoulder stand is my favorite. Inversions are our only way of fighting back against gravity.

agdyl

I love handstands and headstands. The handstands basically require a wall most of the time, but I still love practicing them. Any arm balances really - even if I'm not good at them, I have a great time working on them. I love half moon and dancer. Used to hate pigeon but now I love it. I really don't have many poses that I don't like...

Except... fish pose. I don't know why but I always feel like I'm just not "getting" it. Sasangasana "rabbit" pose in Bikram class. Ugh - my knees don't like sitting on my heels and I can't breathe in this pose. Plow is the same thing - I don't know if it's just the boobs, but I always feel like I'm suffocating. That's definitely not my favorite sensation!

AwesomeSquirrel

At the moment parivritta parsvakonasana is really challenging me (revolved side angle) and chakrasana just scares me... I really enjoy pigeon and urdhva dhanurasana (upward wheel) as well as padmasana.

stephanj

I love/hate flat back uttanasana? Because my hamstrings are so tight. I need to do that for about 3 days straight lol.
I adore pigeon, hated when I first tried it but it stretches my hips out in a way nothing else does.

yogibella

My likes & dislikes keep changing but off the top of my head, I'd say that I really like half-moon pose (hated it when I first started but fell in love with it), chaturanga dandasana (thank you Ashtanga!), pigeon (I could stay there all day), krounchasana (heron pose), pincha mayurasana & headstand when it works and I love actually seeing & feeling the changes in my downdog lately. It's subtle I'm sure but it has definitely improved over the years! @mary - I actually quite love boat pose. it's a workout for sure when you're doing repeats but what a great ab workout!

My dislikes... well not really dislikes until I can learn to actually do them properly or to get stronger in them... then it'll become my favourites I'm sure;) They are handstands, wheel, side crow and other arm balances and hanumanasana (ouch!) They are all definitely challenging for me. Oh and as someone said above, halasana or plow pose. I get suffocated by my boobs too!

GiddyupTim

Triangle pose is REALLY difficult for me. I get a sharp pain at the inside of my knee, at the bottom of the adductors. No other pose is like that for me. There are many poses I cannot do, of course. But, no other ones that hurt like a triangle pose does.
I used to play soccer and i suspect it may have something to do with having done lots of kicking, using the inside of the foot and the adductors. But I don't know.
I can do the pose. But I have to be very careful and very gentle.

Mariposa_Lily

I love triangle, rabbit, shoulder stand, wheel and the full expression of pigeon (even though I'm currently working very hard with some hip issues that make pigeon a little challenging). They just feel so good and stretchy.

My nemesis is crow. Some of that is because of strength, but it's moistly because I have very sensitive skin. Crow hurts--a lot. And just trying it once or twice leaves me with bruises on my arms.

That, and I don't like extended side angle--in many ways my hips are too loose, and so for years I just settled right down into the joint, and could have stayed there forever. (I didn't realize I was doing anything wrong.) Finally a teacher saw what I was doing, and now I have instructions to not go so deep to build strength. So, now that darned position burns, AND I look like I'm a total novice. Every time I have a new teacher, he/she tries to "correct me" and get me to go lower/deeper; I've gotten very good at responding, "No, I'm fine. "I'm working therapeutically."

guidothecat

well I am not advanced as some of you, :smokin: but currently my favorites are cobra and tree. And I am learning to appreciate wheel.

Cobra is a basic move I know, but it does wonders for the stress in my back/shoulders, working up to the inverted poses, but not going to rush it either (even as a kid I couldn't do a handstand or cartwheel) kind of 'uncoordinated' as they say....and I also like deep lake (I do only hatha yoga for now due to fibromyalgia issues) and normally get too relaxed and take a bit of a nap during deep lake figure it is good for the belly stress and if I get relaxed enough for a nod off, it is working?

And downward dog is a personal favorite, basic, but highly effective and all you can do is breathe and relax, so it gives me a few moments for just me.

I like tree, keeps me balanced and centered...can't over think it, otherwise I loose the center and wobble, but I can get about a full 5 minutes in tree on either side before I start thinking about life and forget to breathe and then wobble? :flowerforyou:

I am looking forward to advancing in my practice, but with my medical issues, there will be some poses I will just not be able to do, but I look forward to finding the ones that I can master and that bring me balance.

agdyl

That, and I don't like extended side angle--in many ways my hips are too loose, and so for years I just settled right down into the joint, and could have stayed there forever. (I didn't realize I was doing anything wrong.) Finally a teacher saw what I was doing, and now I have instructions to not go so deep to build strength. So, now that darned position burns, AND I look like I'm a total novice. Every time I have a new teacher, he/she tries to "correct me" and get me to go lower/deeper; I've gotten very good at responding, "No, I'm fine. "I'm working therapeutically."

That's awesome - and really good for you too. I have a teacher who takes the time to make the extra flexible people get out of sinking into their joints and work on strengthening instead and it's really a good example and reminder that the point isn't to look good/advance/like anything in particular. It's to do whatever the best thing for your body is, so good for you!

We've been working on that same thing in warrior 1, etc - to come up higher and get your hip alignment right instead of worrying about being deep in the pose. It's definitely challenging!

yoginimary

Triangle pose is REALLY difficult for me. I get a sharp pain at the inside of my knee, at the bottom of the adductors. No other pose is like that for me. There are many poses I cannot do, of course. But, no other ones that hurt like a triangle pose does.
I used to play soccer and i suspect it may have something to do with having done lots of kicking, using the inside of the foot and the adductors. But I don't know.
I can do the pose. But I have to be very careful and very gentle.

What about revolved triangle?

Check out this article:
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2774

yogibella

My nemesis is crow. Some of that is because of strength, but it's moistly because I have very sensitive skin. Crow hurts--a lot. And just trying it once or twice leaves me with bruises on my arms.

hey Lily:) I used to get big black bruises on the back of my arms too when I started doing crow. They were seriously ugly too lol:P But I don't get them anymore -- I think over time, the arms just toughened up. Also, if you try lifting with your core more -- like imagining tucking up your legs as close to you as possible, rather than balancing all your weight on the back of your arms -- it alleviates some of that knee to arm action and helps with the lifting too. Hopefully that will help. It did for me at least:)

I think the full expression of the pose is supposed to be straight arms too. Yup, still working on that one:)

vgurgel

So, i just joined MFP. Anyway... I really love pigeon. It just makes me feel so relaxed. I know it´s kind of crazy, but i find staff pose really hard. That´s the result of having back problems since I was 10. My core just suffers trying to hold my back where it should be.

Mariposa_Lily

So, i just joined MFP. Anyway... I really love pigeon. It just makes me feel so relaxed. I know it´s kind of crazy, but i find staff pose really hard. That´s the result of having back problems since I was 10. My core just suffers trying to hold my back where it should be.

Staff pose is one of those misunderstood and underestimated positions--most of my instructors in the past have rushed through it in their hurry to get into a seated forward fold. But, like mountain (another underestimated position), when done right, it's quite the workout, even though it *looks* like you're not doing anything.

Do you try putting a folded blanket under your sits bones, to take a little of the pressure off your back?

vgurgel

I haven´t tried using a blanket. I can actually do the pose but, like you said, it is quite an workout. I might try it out, though.

tavenne323

I don't like Fish pose.. it's awkward and bothers my low back. I am currently enjoying getting better at crow and headstand. I also really like twisting poses and hip openers.

lauradoingyoga

Used to hate hate hate pigeon, very painful but with practice it's gotten better. Anyforward bend is fun because I have very flexible hamstrings. Also love headstand and the tripod. Agree with getting good instructors to make me back out of poses I sink into and develop strength instead.

yogicarl

I often love the poses I hate most because they are often the ones I see most progress in as time in practise continues.

fit4lifeUcan2

I don't like anything that has me kneeling for any period of time because it kills my knees. I really need to get one of those spongy rubber kneeling mats they use for gardening. My friend uses hers and swear by it for getting some cushioning for her knees.

Any pose where I have to bend backwards and tilt my head back causes me to lose my balance really bad and I end up falling over. Crescent moon terrifies me lol. I can get into the pose but as soon as my head goes back I'm on the floor. After falling a couple of times last night I decided to do it without arching so far back and keeping my head up straighter.

I have MS and even tilting my head back while in the shower makes me tip so I always have to reach out and hold the wall. Cant close my eyes period while standing of I drop like a brick. But over all I love yoga. Its really helped with my balance. I wouldn't be able to ride my bike if it wasn't for yoga. Yes I still wobble occasionally on my bike but at least I can ride it again. Yeah for yoga!!

agdyl

I often love the poses I hate most because they are often the ones I see most progress in as time in practise continues.

So true!

agdyl

I don't like anything that has me kneeling for any period of time because it kills my knees. I really need to get one of those spongy rubber kneeling mats they use for gardening. My friend uses hers and swear by it for getting some cushioning for her knees.

Any pose where I have to bend backwards and tilt my head back causes me to lose my balance really bad and I end up falling over. Crescent moon terrifies me lol. I can get into the pose but as soon as my head goes back I'm on the floor. After falling a couple of times last night I decided to do it without arching so far back and keeping my head up straighter.

I have MS and even tilting my head back while in the shower makes me tip so I always have to reach out and hold the wall. Cant close my eyes period while standing of I drop like a brick. But over all I love yoga. Its really helped with my balance. I wouldn't be able to ride my bike if it wasn't for yoga. Yes I still wobble occasionally on my bike but at least I can ride it again. Yeah for yoga!!

I have two rather thick mats that I use together whenever I practice, which gives a lot of extra cushion for my knees. I have arthritis/old knee injuries/etc. and it definitely helps. You could also just have a second mat folded up and use that under your knees when you need the padding in kneeling poses.

And with regards to reaching your head back - I always teach this as totally optional. For most people, I think it's preferable to keep your chin tucked (engage jalandhara bandha) and not let the head drop back at all, even as you are backbending. I would only let your neck bend back like that if it feels good, so since it doesn't for you, I'd skip it. If you feel that you need to stretch the front of your neck, you could do that lying in bed, etc. so that you can accomplish it safely without any dizziness.

fit4lifeUcan2

I don't like anything that has me kneeling for any period of time because it kills my knees. I really need to get one of those spongy rubber kneeling mats they use for gardening. My friend uses hers and swear by it for getting some cushioning for her knees.

Any pose where I have to bend backwards and tilt my head back causes me to lose my balance really bad and I end up falling over. Crescent moon terrifies me lol. I can get into the pose but as soon as my head goes back I'm on the floor. After falling a couple of times last night I decided to do it without arching so far back and keeping my head up straighter.

I have MS and even tilting my head back while in the shower makes me tip so I always have to reach out and hold the wall. Cant close my eyes period while standing of I drop like a brick. But over all I love yoga. Its really helped with my balance. I wouldn't be able to ride my bike if it wasn't for yoga. Yes I still wobble occasionally on my bike but at least I can ride it again. Yeah for yoga!!

I have two rather thick mats that I use together whenever I practice, which gives a lot of extra cushion for my knees. I have arthritis/old knee injuries/etc. and it definitely helps. You could also just have a second mat folded up and use that under your knees when you need the padding in kneeling poses.

And with regards to reaching your head back - I always teach this as totally optional. For most people, I think it's preferable to keep your chin tucked (engage jalandhara bandha) and not let the head drop back at all, even as you are backbending. I would only let your neck bend back like that if it feels good, so since it doesn't for you, I'd skip it. If you feel that you need to stretch the front of your neck, you could do that lying in bed, etc. so that you can accomplish it safely without any dizziness.

Great idea with the extra mat folded up. They have a stack of extra mats there.. I never thought to do that.

WestCoastWild

I hate hate reclined hero, and have no idea why! It doesn't hurt in a "my muscles are stretching way," but in a, "something is off with my body right now" way. Im not sure if it hurts my lower back or my knees, but I always do Camel or Child's Pose instead I also dislike floor bow, but more because it's hard and slightly uncomfortable, rather than there being anything particularly wrong with it.

On the other hand, I think my favourite combo is standing half moon followed by standing split, moving into a sun salutation. It all feels so joyful, and I love balancing/reaching up to the sky. Standing split isn't my forte, but one of the teachers (I do hot yoga) always has us play around with it. Standing on our toes, putting our hands in different places, etc.

Patzycakes

I really don't like any arm balance pose. I have carpal tunnel and that type of pressure on wrists doesn't do good things for my ability to feel my fingers. So I tend to use that time as a water break.

I love most other poses. My favorites are Ushtrasana (Camel Pose) and really any other back bending heart opener.

Oh I hate "Flip dog". With a passion. But I can just go into full wheel when doing it. So I've modified to do that instead, but it's still killer on my wrists.

strongmindstrongbody

Pigeon pose is my favorite. Came across this pose a while back (before getting into yoga) when sciatica pain was flaring. The pain went away and that's when I started wondering what other kinds of movement could help the body.

I am not a fan of the up dog/downward dog combo. Flowing from downward dog to up dog irritates my left shoulder. If anyone knows of a good dvd or book that explains how to properly do this combo, I'd be grateful.

yoginimary

I am not a fan of the up dog/downward dog combo. Flowing from downward dog to up dog irritates my left shoulder. If anyone knows of a good dvd or book that explains how to properly do this combo, I'd be grateful.

Try rotating your fingers out (point your middle finger to the corners of the mat) and see if that helps. A teacher should be able to see what you are doing to cause the pain in your shoulder.

yoga_mel

No favourites jump to mind right now but one i dislike is definitely fish!