There is bound to be a pose (or two) that one can't execute confidently in a class. Today, mine was the Wheel Pose. This pose is also known as Chakrasana or Upward-Facing Bow pose.
The Wheel Pose is an advanced backward bending pose that strengthens the arms, shoulders, wrists, legs, buttock, abdomen and spine. I find this pose hard to get into, as it requires some arm strength which I do not quite have. (Inclined flexed arm hang used to be my weakest item in the physical activity test during college times.) Just can't seem to get the strength to execute the final push to straighten my arms and to lift my body and head off the floor. Even after assuming the full pose with the teacher's assistance, I couldn't hold onto the pose for more than five seconds. Yet, I'd like to challenge myself to master this pose and to execute it with ease. Hope that I can share a photo of myself doing this pose (effortlessly) in the near future. A word of caution though - do not try this pose in case of back injury, heart problems, headache, diarrhoea or high/low blood pressure. Preparatory poses such as Cobra pose and bridge pose should be done before trying the Wheel pose.
Now that I've attended two Hatha yoga classes, should I move on to Hatha flow next week? Am I ready for what I think would be the more demanding yoga with those dynamic sequencing poses? Hmm..
