Mangesh Dhale
My Secret Salabhasana I can still recall the first time when I tried Salabhasana (sha-la-BA-sa-na), or Locust Pose. My back was tight behind, my legs were heavy, and it was an uphill task to raise my chest. I was skeptical. What would this lowly, clumsy posture do to the persistent pang in my back? But …
My Secret Sarvangasana The first attempt that I made to do Sarvangasana, or Shoulderstand, I recall. I was actually sceptical, and my yoga teacher assured that it was a cure-all. My legs raised to the sky, I was lying on my back and felt awkward and unsure. However, something changed as I made myself a …
The Ultimate Trikonasana Guide I recall the first instance that I did Trikonasana or Triangle Pose. This was an elegant and expansive position my yoga teacher moved the rest of the class into which left me with equal feelings of awe and frustration. I could not get my hamstrings relaxed, my balance inexplicably wobbly, and …
Power of USHTRASANA I recall that the first time I deeply experienced USHTRASANA, or Camel Pose. It was not a picture-perfect scene. My thighs were screaming, my heart was racing in my throat and I was fully aware that my lower back would never forgive me. However, something changed as I maintained the posture. This …
My Secret Vajrasana I would have believed that significant wellness was necessitated by an enormous lifestyle change. I would look at complicated yoga postures and meditations that take an hour and be immediately deflated. That was prior to my realization of the Vajrasana or the Pose of Thunderbolt. This one, seemingly simple pose has turned …
Unlock Your Shoulders Gomukhasana I recall when my yoga instructor told us to go into Gomukhasana or Cow Face Pose. I glanced at the room, and there students were holding their hands behind their backs with no difficulty. It was quite a different case with my own effort. One of them was pointing to the …
Tight shoulders until I found the Dolphin Pose The first occasion I did Dolphin Pose is something I remember. The shoulders were trembling, hamstrings screaming and I was sure I never would get it right. But I kept coming back to it. Why? The reason is that I soon realized Dolphin Pose, known in Sanskrit, …
Cat Pose transformed my back pain and mental clarity I even believed that my back would always be stiff. Each morning I would wake up with a pain that was not new to me, a soreness that would accompany me as I lived my life. Then I found Cat Pose, and it really changed everything …
Bridge Pose transformed my back health I had been believing that having a stiff, achy back in my life was normal. Spending hours on the desk made me hunched and compressed. Later, I learned Bridge Pose, or Setu Bandha Sarvangasana. This was a backbend which I made my secret weapon. It did not only relieve …
Angle Pose and it transformed my tight hips. I would believe that my hips were simply stuck. Being in a desk all day, I experienced an overall and persistent low level of stiffness. Then I discovered Bound Angel Pose or Baddha Konasana. It wasn’t love at first sight. It was a challenge. However, it was …