Exploring Advanced Yoga Postures: A Journey of Patience & Practice
Advanced poses aren't about showing off or being naturally flexible. They are about patience, understanding your own limits, and celebrating the slow, steady process of getting there. Let's explore these shapes together, honestly and without ego.
This is a fun and challenging backbend, moving from Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose) into a deeper variation on my forearms. It requires a lot of shoulder and thoracic spine mobility.
Using blocks to support a variation of Camel Pose, or Ustrasana. This is a great way to work on backbends and open the chest and heart chakra safely.
Moving into Anjaneyasana, or low lunge, with a deep backbend. This pose is a fantastic heart opener and stretches the entire front of the body.
Holding the low lunge backbend. Keeping active is a lifestyle, and every practice, no matter how small, contributes to your overall fitness.
A full expression of Ustrasana, or Camel Pose. This deep backbend is invigorating and helps to open the Anahata, or heart chakra.
A supported backbend pose using blocks. This variation helps to build strength and confidence for deeper heart-opening postures.
Practicing Camel Pose. This posture stretches the abdomen, chest, and neck, and I always feel so energized after my backbend practice.
A restorative backbend in Supta Baddha Konasana, or Reclined Bound Angle Pose. This is a wonderful way to cool down after a backbend practice, gently opening the hips and chest.
A variation of Ashwa Sanchalanasana, the equestrian pose. Standing poses like this are amazing for building strength in the legs and connecting to your root chakra.
Here’s how I get into a wall-supported variation of Warrior 2. Using the wall is a great way to understand the alignment of the pose, especially the hip rotation, without worrying about balance.
About Exploring Advanced Postures
Achieving an inversion or a deep arm balance isn't about being born with a perfect body; it's about muscle memory and showing up even when you don't feel like it. I’m not here to push you into perfect shapes. Whether we’re using a wall to find our center in a Warrior 2 or using blocks to safely open the chest in a backbend, we focus on the foundation first. Advanced work requires smart prep, not just intensity.
Advanced yoga is often misunderstood as a display of gymnastics. In my practice, it is a tool for self-discovery. When you look at an arm balance like Fallen Angel or a deep backbend like Ustrasana (Camel Pose), you see the result. What you don't see are the days I could barely touch my toes or the times my wrists needed extra rest.
My approach to advanced postures is rooted in three principles:
- Foundation over Flamboyance: Before we float, we ground. We use props like blocks and walls to ensure your alignment is safe. This isn't cheating; it's intelligence. It helps you understand the geometry of a pose so you don't rely on momentum.
- Consistency is King: I started my journey five years ago with injuries and doubts. The body remembers. You don't need to be perfect today; you just need to keep showing up.
- Listen to the Body: Some days are for deep, active backbends. Other days are for gentle, restorative flows. If you are struggling with a pose, it is not a failure. It is just information.
Whether you are looking to master your first Headstand or find more ease in your backbends, my private 1-on-1 sessions are designed to move at your pace. We break down complex movements into manageable steps, focusing on your specific anatomy and energy levels. You don't have to 'be flexible' to start; you just have to be willing to try.
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