Goal Pose for 2013

yoginimary

The past couple of years, I've had a goal pose. It's not something that if I don't do, it somehow that reflects badly on my practice - or anything like that. It's more of I would like to move in this direction.

The past two years it's been mayurasana (peacock pose, but not to be confused with the pincha mayurasana, elbow balance). It's considered a "guy pose" - it's easier if your weight is in your upper body and you're a little stiff, so, of course, I've always wanted to be able to do it.
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2495

On my way to get there, this year I'm working up to 1 minute timings in navasana/boat and chaturanga. I should also work on the elbow/wrist placement.
My teacher said I should also have a "fun" pose (one I like to work on), so this year it's Samakonasana/middle splits - which is basically working on baddha konasana and upavista konasana (two of my favorite poses).

Any goal poses for 2013 for you?

Yogi_Carl

I would like - no - I plan to be able to rise slowly into a well controlled Tripod Headstand in the middle of the room and I would like to be able to kick up into a headstand against a wall or partner without them helping my hips over my hands.

That is my promise to myself for 2013.

yoginimary

I would like - no - I plan to be able to rise slowly into a well controlled Tripod Headstand in the middle of the room and I would like to be able to kick up into a headstand against a wall or partner without them helping my hips over my hands.

That is my promise to myself for 2013.

Two legs straight?

Amberonamission

Upward bow pose. I have never been able to push off the ground even a little.

zenmummy

I would love it if the soles of my feet would finally reach the ground while doing down dog! They are gradually moving, but are still an inch of the ground. Who knows, they may touch ground in 2013!

yoginimary

I would love it if the soles of my feet would finally reach the ground while doing down dog! They are gradually moving, but are still an inch of the ground. Who knows, they may touch ground in 2013!

One of my teacher's posted a video about this today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKIv6ykhgkI

you can subscribe to her "yoga tips" on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yogatips-with-Christina-Sell/386210744797436

Upward Bow (Urdhva Dhanurasana):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGNK0q8nFJc

Headstand, Handstand, and Elbow Balance are are up there as well.

Yogi_Carl

I would like - no - I plan to be able to rise slowly into a well controlled Tripod Headstand in the middle of the room and I would like to be able to kick up into a headstand against a wall or partner without them helping my hips over my hands.

That is my promise to myself for 2013.

Two legs straight?

Yes - two legs straight. What I realised this week is I am setting my tripod up with my hands too near my head so I am balancing on a narrower plane. Easily sorted and now I am much more stable.

So - how do I balance in Headstand 1? I can do H2 now, but somehow H1 is harder! That will be my new goal pose for 2013 I think.

yoginimary

Yes - two legs straight. What I realised this week is I am setting my tripod up with my hands too near my head so I am balancing on a narrower plane. Easily sorted and now I am much more stable.

So - how do I balance in Headstand 1? I can do H2 now, but somehow H1 is harder! That will be my new goal pose for 2013 I think.

H1 balance is harder - easier on the neck and you can stay longer though. You do H1 at the wall, yes? You'll have no problem with practice. You can do the following to learn balance - it progresses like this:
1. take the legs off the wall one at a time - probably you already do this
2. take the legs off the wall together
3. move to a shins distance away from the wall, go up with bent legs and place the feet/toes on the wall, go back to stage 1 from here then 2.
4. learn to come up with legs together bent, so you have to first find your balance with knees in, knees to the ceiling (think virasana), then straighten the legs - you probably come up this way in H2?

Of course your teacher will probably tell you something similar if headstand is taught enough. Also have your teacher check your head, elbow, wrist, and shoulder alignment - then your back, hip, and feet alignment. Notice how you hold your head - are you able to press your wrists down? Do you feel like you have a lot of power in your forearms (can you lift your head off the floor if needed)?

Open your shoulders a lot before going up. I'm guessing with your weight lifting, it's a flexibility issue, not a strength one.

That's all I can think of right now.

zenmummy

I would love it if the soles of my feet would finally reach the ground while doing down dog! They are gradually moving, but are still an inch of the ground. Who knows, they may touch ground in 2013!

One of my teacher's posted a video about this today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKIv6ykhgkI

you can subscribe to her "yoga tips" on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yogatips-with-Christina-Sell/386210744797436


THANKS! I will add this to my morning practice. I would be THRILLED if I hit ground zero one of these days!

AmyBoogie

I never thought about making a goal pose. My practice has been interesting. When my practice is good, I advance in leaps and when it's not...well, we all know how that is. In my practice this morning I was thinking of setting up a private lesson to help me with my shoulders. They're stiff and I have troubles making my arms do what I want. I carry stress in my shoulders and so I need some clear and good pointers on working into the fullest of a pose when shoulders are involved. I've inadvertently had private classes before and been help heaps with timing that would give my practice a boost.

So..... not to continue to be long winded.
I think my first goal is to have a good regular practice and be able to do all of the Ashtanga primary series as deep as it's intended. Which means my shoulders need to really get in the game. I have other things I'd like to do but more flexible shoulders is really my goal right now.

yoginimary

So..... not to continue to be long winded.
I think my first goal is to have a good regular practice and be able to do all of the Ashtanga primary series as deep as it's intended. Which means my shoulders need to really get in the game. I have other things I'd like to do but more flexible shoulders is really my goal right now.

I'm pretty impressed that it's just your shoulders. There's some serious hip poses in that.

yogibella

there are so many goals... but the ones that make me really happy to accomplish are all the handstand, headstand, elbow and arm balance poses. and work on my binds....

I too would love to get more into doing the Ashtanga primary series!

legalporter

My goal pose for 2013 is Wheel. I remember doing it effortlessly as a kid!

yoginimary

In class this morning, one of my students said she went to an Ashtanga class and worked on the primary series. Thanks for bringing it up, so I could take another look at it and be ready to answer questions.

AmyBoogie

I'm pretty impressed that it's just your shoulders. There's some serious hip poses in that.

Hips and hamstrings could still use improvement but I can see/feel them improving. It's the shoulders that I just can't see or feel improvement in. They feel stagnant and stiff.

Easywider

To turn this..



Into this...

TGKvr

Hmm... I think I have a few goal poses. I'd like to do crow for more than a few seconds, and move into side crow and/or crane. I'd also like to be able to increase my splits - meaning the distance I can comfortably separate my legs.
I also hope to improve the way I transition through certain poses.

Pamela_June

This group of yoga folks may be way tooooo advanced for me, but I have just gotten into yoga and I am loving every minute of yoga that I am learning and doing... I love the way it makes me feel ...

Pam:flowerforyou:

TGKvr

Welcome, Pam! No worries, some of us are beginners here! Any goal for any pose is worthy and admirable... the point is you are continuously improving your practice, at any level.

yoginimary

Welcome, Pam! No worries, some of us are beginners here! Any goal for any pose is worthy and admirable... the point is you are continuously improving your practice, at any level.

^^^this :bigsmile:

brittbap

My goal will be to get up in forearm balance, handstand, and headstand via pressing up instead of kicking up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4YCG4k0Q6o

I also want to be able to have that light sensation and floating pause when I jump through from Downdog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4YCG4k0Q6o

amylahminute

Hi! I'm new to the group! :flowerforyou: I have been practicing yoga intermittently since 2001. My goal pose for 2013 is Paripurna Navasana (boat pose). I do not seem to be able to do this pose (as it is done in the Ashtanga Primary Series) without collapsing after a few breaths. My lower back starts burn and then my legs start to creep toward the floor.

There are other asanas I would love to get into without injury, but I'll be happy if I achieve a boat that floats this year.

bunny1006

My yoga goals for 2013 is to practice more regularly. I invariably end up missing days and sometimes weeks of practice. :sad: :frown: :blushing: :embarassed: I would like to get comfortable with Moon Salutation (sp), too. Finally, I would be more than pleased with myself if by the end of the year, I can hold crane pose! :happy: Thanks for asking! What a great idea!

bunny1006

Welcome, Pam! No worries, some of us are beginners here! Any goal for any pose is worthy and admirable... the point is you are continuously improving your practice, at any level.

^^^this :bigsmile:

Yes! Welcome, Pam!

TGKvr

While I didn't mention these in my previous post, I've had a few goals that I finally reached last night!
The first, sort of basic and silly really, was to be able to keep my heels on the ground in down dog. The last few weeks of my practice, I've had moments where my heels have touched and it was pretty exciting (haha!). But last night, I discovered I'm now able to keep my feet flat the entire time.
Second, I wanted to be able to touch my forehead to my knees in the forward fold (and seated forward fold). I've been pretty close, and have in the past been able to "bob" into it for a moment, but I can now hold that position for any length of time. While I've always had great balance, I've struggled with overall flexibility so this was big!
Third, moving into Bird of Paradise... Finally! I was never able to really make the transition from extended side angle, and even when I was able to contort into that pose it was only for a second before I fell out of it. Last night I was finally able to make a smooth transition, stand tall in the pose, and even extend my leg straight and I held it for several breaths then came out of the pose very smoothly.

I really feel like I'm making huge progress with my practice, and last night was SO satisfying! I felt like I was high! LOL.

Now on to crane!

yoginimary

While I didn't mention these in my previous post, I've had a few goals that I finally reached last night!
The first, sort of basic and silly really, was to be able to keep my heels on the ground in down dog. The last few weeks of my practice, I've had moments where my heels have touched and it was pretty exciting (haha!). But last night, I discovered I'm now able to keep my feet flat the entire time.
Second, I wanted to be able to touch my forehead to my knees in the forward fold (and seated forward fold). I've been pretty close, and have in the past been able to "bob" into it for a moment, but I can now hold that position for any length of time. While I've always had great balance, I've struggled with overall flexibility so this was big!
Third, moving into Bird of Paradise... Finally! I was never able to really make the transition from extended side angle, and even when I was able to contort into that pose it was only for a second before I fell out of it. Last night I was finally able to make a smooth transition, stand tall in the pose, and even extend my leg straight and I held it for several breaths then came out of the pose very smoothly.

I really feel like I'm making huge progress with my practice, and last night was SO satisfying! I felt like I was high! LOL.

Now on to crane!

Great job! I think bird of paradise is way harder than crane. You'll be there in no time.

OtiWanKenobi

This is a great topic! Last year I accomplished having my feet planted to the ground on a downward dog! :-) This year will be to do a proper warrior 3 pose. I quickly loose balance.

snoopnemmy

Tripod Headstand without any help or a wall is my goal!

jeansgirl

I always thought i needed to do that too...but I best thing about yoga is that theres no right or wrong...only working for our best intention.

adm88

Oh Bird of Paradise is definitely a goal for me. Maybe this year, maybe next. I can get the bind but then I have to just breathe in it while everyone else just springs right up. But we are all students of yoga so it will come if and when we are ready, right?

alliesamcat

I'd like to master crow pose and eventually do some type of headstand without wall assistance.