What it is:
Camatkarasana is a magnificent heart-opening pose that induces a sense of freedom, joy and levity; for this reason, it is also known as Wild Thing.
What it does:
Wild Thing and poses that prepare the body for back-bending are often accompanied by an ecstatic, playful feeling as the heart remembers it’s essential nature. As a hand-balancing pose it builds healthy shoulders and wrists which form the stable base. It also opens the front of the legs, hips and torso and is known to lift fatigue and mild depression.
How to do it:
To begin, sit comfortably and quietly and listen to your breath; remember that you already embody the principals of strength, stability, joy and freedom. Allow the breath to bring to you back to the remembrance of these qualities.
Come onto all fours with the intention of keeping a stable base. Claw the fingers into the floor and with muscle tone extending from fingertips to shoulders, take Adho Mukha Savasana [downward facing dog]. Inhale and lengthen your side-body from shoulder to hip and lift the armpits towards the sky. Exhale and press back through the upper thighs, opening the hamstrings. Take two breaths here connecting to the earth with with each exhale.
From Adho Mukha Savasana, bring your weight into your right hand and the outside of your right foot like Vasisthasana [side plank]. Exhale, press into the floor and buoyantly lift the hips. Inhale, keep hands and feet strong and grounded and bring both shoulder blades onto the back of the heart, creating a stack of support from the floor to left shoulder.
Exhale, bring the left foot back and place toes on the floor keeping the knee bent. Inhale and curl back through the upper back as you keep the right hand strong. With each exhale press down through the feet and hands lifting the hips. Extend your left arm from your heart overhead toward the ground or alternately place the palm over the heart offering each breath to the pulse between stability and freedom; in your full expression of the pose breathe playfully for five to ten rounds.
Exhale and return to downward facing dog and repeat on the other side.
Nikki Juen,
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