3 Types of Arm Balances: How to Avoid Possible Pitfalls and Come Out Strong

When I was in my 20s I participated in an arm balancing class series. Over the course of several weeks, we worked tirelessly toward poses like Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand) and Vrischikasana (Scorpion Pose). I even remember balancing in Scorpion all on my own for few glorious seconds. There was a young and very pregnant woman in the class who was determined to master Handstand before delivery. The teacher didn’t seem to mind.

It seems like many 20-somethings go through this stage of infatuation with arm balances when they get into yoga. It’s not surprising; these types of poses give you a good physical challenge, and mastering them makes you feel strong and capable. There are a few things to be aware of though when it comes to arm balances, no matter your age. So today we will compare three types of arm balances and the challenges that they place on the body.

If avoiding injuries and correct alignment is important to your practice – Study with Olga Kabel and YogaUOnline – Avoiding Yoga Injuries: Common Alignment Mistakes with Backbends and Lateral Bends. 

Would you like information about Axial Extension Poses? If so, here is another great article from Olga Kabel – 4 Yoga Poses to Increase Axial Extension.

Reprinted with permission from sequencewiz.com

Educated as a school teacher, Olga Kabel has been teaching yoga for over 14 years. She completed multiple Yoga Teacher Training Programs but discovered the strongest connection to the Krishnamacharya/ T.K.V. Desikachar lineage. She had studied with Gary Kraftsow and American Viniyoga Institute (2004-2006) and received her Viniyoga Teacher diploma in July 2006 becoming an AVI-certified Yoga Therapist in April 2011. Olga is a founder and managing director of Sequence Wiz- a web-based yoga sequence builder that assists yoga teachers and yoga therapists in creating and organizing yoga practices. It also features simple, informational articles on how to sequence yoga practices for maximum effectiveness. Olga strongly believes in the healing power of this ancient discipline on every level: physical, psychological, and spiritual. She strives to make yoga practices accessible to students of any age, physical ability and medical history specializing in helping her students relieve muscle aches and pains, manage stress and anxiety, and develop mental focus.