Bakasana (बकासन) and Kakasana (काकासन) are arm balancing poses and require good strength in the wrists, arms, abdominal and core area, and thighs. They also require good mental focus. These two poses are almost identical in their approach. The only difference is that in the final pose, the elbows are bent in the Kakasana while they are straightened in the Bakasana. For most people who are just learning the pose, it is practiced with the elbows bent. That is the variation we'll be working on. So, from here on in this article, I'll be referring to the pose only as Kakasana (crow pose).
For most beginners, the crow pose is a challenging pose. In order to prepare for the pose. we'll first go through a sequency of a few preparatory asanas.
I hope you'll enjoy practicing with the video demonstration.
As many of you are aware, I teach weekly ongoing yoga classes as per the schedule given below. These classes are offered both online via Zoom as well as in-person at my home studio.
Please note: in-person participation for the Wednesday class is at the Hindu Temple (HSNC) cultural hall.
Home studio address (for in-person participation on Mon, Tue and Sat): 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Schedule:
Monday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
Tuesday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)
Wednesday: 6:30 - 8 PM (level 1)(in-person at HSNC)
Registration: Fill out the registration form, providing information in all the fields, and submit it online.
Access: In-person at my home studio, or online via zoom. Zoom access will be provided upon receipt of registration.
Schedule and Fee: Please visit my website here for the current schedule and available payment plans. If you are a new student, the fee for the first month is $40. How to pay: check, Zelle (use subhashmittal@gmail.com), Venmo (use 9199269717) or paypal (go to bottom of page)
Upcoming Programs
Yoga for kids/teens, 8-week session (ongoing)
Please note: this program is now being offered in a hybrid mode. You can join the class online via zoom or in-person.
What: Yoga for Kids and Teens (age 7+ years), 8-week Session
When: Every Sunday, 6:00 - 7:00 PM (US East coast time, EST)
Starting: Sunday, October 29, 2023 (note: no class on November 26 due to Thanksgiving)
In-person participation address: 206 Redwood Park Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Zoom Access: login info will be provided upon receipt of registration and payment
As you may be aware, I have been offering monthly workshops wherein I discuss various aspects of yoga philosophy. The main focus in these workshops is to discuss the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in some depth. In addition, from time to time, I also discuss concepts from the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other related ancient scriptures. In order to preserve these talks for future reference, I have been making an audio recording of these discussions and sharing them with the participants. These audio recordings are now available on the podcast channel on my blog. You are welcome to download these audio recordings for your use. In addition, you can listen to these podcasts as well as subscribe to them on itunes as well.
youtube channel
As you would have noticed from many of the recent posts on my blog, I have been adding short videos of many of the commonly practiced asana and pranayama sequences. I strongly urge you to subscribe to my youtube channel and visit the channel frequently to get instructions for your own asana and pranayama practices. Please share the link to the channel with your friends who might benefit from these detailed video instructions.
I would love to hear your feedback and, of course, would welcome suggestions for future videos that you would like to see on the channel.
Yoga in the News
Yoga providing an enduring impact in prison as inmates look to move from chaos to calm
“Many studies support the rehabilitative effects of yoga for reducing impulsivity and aggression”.
“A 2017 Swedish randomised controlled trial concluded that impulsivity and antisocial behaviour were reduced following participation in a 10-week [once- per-week] yoga group”.
Yoga-Based Supportive Care May Prevent Treatment-Related Complications in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Yoga-based supportive care may help alleviate the negative side effects of radiation treatment, decrease the use of feeding tube placements, and reduce emergency department visits in patients with head and neck cancer, especially when family caregivers participate, according to new findings presented by Milbury et al at the 2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium (Abstract 292).
Yoga May Reduce Physical Decline in HNC Population Receiving Radiotherapy
A yoga program that included caregivers may reduce adverse effects (AEs) associated with physical functioning decline in patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing treatment with radiotherapy, according to a news release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Engineering work demands creativity and innovation in order to solve complex, interdisciplinary problems. But creativity and innovation skills are not emphasized in many traditional engineering courses. So engineers enter the workforce with important analysis skills, but may struggle to “think outside the box” when it comes to creative problem-solving. Our research shows that mindfulness can help engineers strengthen their ability to generate new ideas, leading to new ways of thinking and better solutions.
Psychological trauma: Expert says yoga can be an active tool in treatment
Psychological trauma is a response to a highly stressful event. These events include natural disaster, war, accidents, being physically and emotionally hurt. However, expert said that yoga can be used to treat the psychological trauma.
Adults with asthma can breathe easier thanks to yoga
A study found that the most crucial workouts for asthmatics wanting to improve their lung function were yoga and breathing exercises paired with cardiovascular training.
If you have a yoga-related question, please write to me and I would do my best to provide an answer in a timely manner. I would love to hear your suggestions for future newsletter articles.
Join any time during the month and enjoy one month of ongoing classes for only $40; you qualify for the discount if you haven't attended a class with me for over one year.
