admin While you do not have to be Sylvester Stallone to rock this pose, I encourage you to channel his persistence, patience, and practice. As the story goes, Stallone was rejected over 1,500 times before he started making moves in the movie business. He never wavered from his dream, even when it cost him dearly.
While you are working towards Funky Forearm, Stand channels his determination and will to succeed. This tricky asymmetrical balance of arms can make you want to roll your eyes or say, “another lifetime,” or it can inspire you to take your practice to the next level. Enjoy your practice!
The sister asana of Pincha Mayurasana is Funky Forearm Stand. If you are able to practice Pincha Mayurasana easily, the Funky Forearm stand will come naturally. Practice the first four poses to prepare for Funky Forearm Stand for a couple of weeks if you are still working on Pincha.
Warming up before playing is important.
Makara Adho Mukha Svanasana (Dolphin Plank Pose)
Your foundation must be solid before you can kick up safely into the Funky Forearm Stand. Makara Adho Mukha is the best place to begin because it will prepare your shoulders and forearms. This pose will suffice for your first week.
Yogi tip: Lift the thighs while the hips are sinking. This will allow you to work both your front and your back equally and protect your lower spinal cord.
Ardha Bhujangasana (Baby Cobra)
Ardha Bhujangasana has a lot to offer. To invite a heart opening, use the anterior deltoids in order to lift the chest. To support the lift, the back muscles should be centered around the spine.
Yogi tip: To engage your lower body, concentrate on pressing the tops of your feet down and lifting the kneecaps gently.
Half Dolphin & Half Chaturanga Pose
Funky Forearm Stand is a challenge to our sense of stability. As your arms are in formation, this preparatory pose will build strength in the arms. The feet remain on the ground so that you can work on strengthening with less risk of falling. The arms and body will be in prep positions.
Yogi tip: Lift the hips and spine in order to relieve the weight from the shoulders and arms.
Taps on the forearms of a Down Dog
In my first yoga class, I was only in Down Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) for two seconds when I fell face-first on the mat. You may need some time to become accustomed to AMS and build up strength in your arms and shoulders. You may have practiced for some time and are ready to do some forearm tappings on the mat.
It is important that both forearms are parallel on the mat at the same moment and that the weight of the hands used to raise the arms into AMS is equal.
Yogi tip: To keep elbows straight, tie a strap around your upper forearms (shoulder distance apart).
Pincha Mayurasana is also known as the Forearm Stand/Feathered Peacock
Pincha Mayurasana is the perfect way to practice before we start pointing out that the Funky Forearm Stand has an asymmetrical nature. If you can do this for one minute, with your legs glued together while the energy is constantly rising and falling from the arms, then I challenge you to post a picture to DOYOU. We’d like to know about your practice.
You are an amazing person. If you want to learn more, we will continue our breakdown of the Funky Forearm Stand.
Asymmetrical Arm Alignment
Look at the third pose to prepare for your roots: The arms will be in Half Dolphin position and half Chaturanga. Here, it’s crucial to keep the arms at shoulder distance apart, with the palm in Half Chaturanga aligned directly above the elbow.
Yogi tip: To lift the shoulders and body away, use the Third Law of Motion of Isaac Newton, focusing on the way it describes the power of pushback. The more you press down with your arms, the more you’ll receive support and pushback to lift your shoulders and body.
Hips High
Here, focus on bringing your hips as high as you can over your shoulders. Even though your arms perform two different movements, it is important to lengthen both sides of your body.
Yogi tip: If you start your pose with your hips higher than your shoulders, it is easier to balance the posture because the shape will not change as much. The higher your hips are, the more momentum you will have in this inverted position.
Lift off to Funky Forearm Standing
If you’d like to try something else, kick up into Hanumanasana by first focusing on the heel pointing up. Then, open up your legs into Hanumanasana if you wish. You want the ultimate core challenge. Try to lift your legs up and together! Let us know when you arrive that you are a rockstar.
Funky Forearm Stand can be a fun place to practice. Currently, I am moving from Funky Forearm Stand into Eka Pada Koundinyasana 1, with asymmetrical hands. What could you do with this pose?
