EKA PADA GALAVA ASANA OR FLYING CROW POSE

Eka Pada Galava Asana is a big pose, combining hip opening with arm balance. The elements of balance, strength and openness are essential for human beings. This beautiful Asana is named after the sage Galava. Gala also means cord.

TECHNIQUE

Start with Vriksa Asana or Tree Pose, standing on the left leg.

Eka Pad Galava Asana

Remove the right foot from the inner left thigh and place the right ankle just above the left knee.

Come into a forward bend, bringing the palms of the hands to the floor.

Bend the left leg on which your are standing.

Hook the toes of the right foot around your upper left arm.

Keep the right foot strongly flexed and the toes tightly hugging the arm.

Bend the elbows, coming into Chaturanga Asana.

Bring the weight of the body forward as you lift the left foot off the floor keeping the knee bent at first.

Bring even more weight forward as you straighten the left leg behind you.

Flex the left foot strongly as you continue to hug the right foot to your upper arm.

Relax and repeat on other side

This is an advanced pose. Beginners should stop at any point if the pose becomes too difficult.

BENEFITS

This Asana increases arms strength, core strength, and balance.

It also opens the hips.

This Asana works to open the deep lateral rotators of the hips.

The particular arm strength we use in Yoga will also come through this Asana.

The external rotation of the hip with some body weight creates openness.