Advanced Yoga Poses & Arm Balances
Deepening your practice into arm balances and backbends is a journey of patience, not just flexibility. I focus on alignment and prop-supported techniques to help you safely build the strength and confidence required for these challenging asanas.
Bakasana, or Crane Pose, is often the first arm balance yogis learn. It teaches you to trust your strength and find your center of gravity. Here I am practicing it in the serene environment of Havelock Island.
Finding my balance in Bakasana (Crow Pose) on a mountain top. Arm balances require you to connect with yourself and find love and trust in your own capabilities, a lesson I bring into all my classes.
Flying Split, or Eka Pada Koundinyasana, is a dynamic and challenging arm balance that combines strength, flexibility, and a bit of courage. It's a beautiful expression of finding inner peace amidst effort.
Using the wall is a great way to safely practice dropping back into Standing Chakrasana (Wheel Pose). In my classes, we use props like walls and blocks to make advanced backbends more accessible and build confidence.
Chakrasana Push-ups are a powerful way to build strength in the arms, shoulders, and back for deeper backbends. This dynamic variation adds an energizing challenge to the classic Wheel Pose.
Here I am using a yoga wheel to work on Kapotasana, a very deep backbend. Props are incredibly helpful for making advanced poses more accessible, allowing you to find steadiness and ease in the posture.
This video demonstrates a sequence of inversions, including Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana) and Plough Pose (Halasana). Inversions are wonderful for improving circulation, boosting immunity, and calming the mind.
Practicing Chakrasana (Wheel Pose) in the morning sun in the Himalayas. A few minutes of yoga each morning teaches the body to stretch and adapt, so that when life challenges us, we bend instead of break.
Working on my Bakasana (Crow Pose) with the Himalayan mountains as my witness. The focus required for arm balances helps to quiet the mind and bring you fully into the present moment.
Another Wheel Pose in the mountains. I believe that if the mind is intensely eager, anything can be accomplished. This trek and practice was a reminder of how we can move beyond our comfort zones.
About Advanced Poses & Arm Balances
Moving into advanced arm balances like Bakasana (Crow Pose) or Eka Pada Koundinyasana isn't just about raw muscle. In my classes, we use specific props like yoga wheels and blocks to safely open the shoulders and hips before attempting these poses, ensuring your joints are fully supported while you build the necessary stability.
Building the Foundation
Many believe advanced asanas are strictly for the flexible, but they are actually about intelligent engagement. I structure sessions to activate your core and warm up your wrists and shoulders, which is essential before practicing inversions like Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand).
Safety Through Support
If you are just starting, we do not jump straight into complex poses. We use the wall and blocks to practice dropping back into Chakrasana (Wheel Pose). This allows you to build the muscular control required to eventually hold these poses freely, reducing the risk of injury while increasing your range of motion.
The Mind-Body Connection
Arm balances require total focus. When you balance, you are forced into the present moment, which is a powerful way to quiet mental chatter and cultivate inner stillness.
Whether you join my Bangalore-based group sessions or prefer 1-on-1 private coaching, my focus remains on mindful progression. We don't just aim for the final pose; we learn to listen to what your body needs on that specific day, finding balance beyond just the physical shape.
Nidhi Bansal
I’m Nidhi, and for me, yoga is a silent conversation between my breath and my soul. I love taking my practice outdoors, whether it’s trekking in the Himalayas or finding space by the beach, and I bring that same sense of adventure and careful, prop-supported alignment into every class I teach.
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