Camatkarasana - Wild Thing Pose
Pronunciation: cah-maht-kah-RAHS-anna meaning "the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart" in Sanskrit.
Wild thing is probably one of the most beautiful looking yoga postures out there, but don't be fooled, it takes strength as well as flexibility to perform it. Before we look at how to do this posture lets go through a few things.
Camatkarasana and It's benefits
Opens the chest and stretches the lungs, throat, and shoulders.
Builds strength in arms and shoulders and chest muscles.
Opens the front of the thigh, hip flexors.
Enhances your balance.
To think about
Watch for any sign of discomfort on your shoulder and readjust as needed.
Push through the bottom arm and keep pressing the floor away from you.
Be mindful about how much you open the chest; you can always stay in a variety of side plank if it feels too much when you add the backbend.
How to do it step by step
- Begin with the Downward-facing Dog or adho mukha svanasana. Lift your right leg towards the ceiling and bend the knee as if you were going for a hip opener.
- Slowly, start to shift your bodyweight more into the left hand and foot as you begin to move into a side plank variation. Mindfully, place your right foot on the floor behind the left leg, engage your glutes and lift your hips towards the ceiling.
- Extend your right arm forward towards the top of the mat and keep lifting through the chest, relax the head and press through the left side of your body up.
- Hold the posture for a few breaths.
Whenever you feel ready to leave this pose, lift your right foot off the floor, bring your right hand back to the mat and move into a three-legged dog for a breath before lowering the right foot down to a downward facing dog.
Variations of camatkarasana
You can also perform this asana from a reversed tabletop position, which allows the supporting shoulder to find more stability when you enter the pose this way.
- Start by sitting on the floor, feet hip-width distance apart.
- Bring your right hand back behind you, fingertips pointing away from you.
- Press your heels on the floor and with the help of your glutes lift the hips as you extend your left arm back behind you coming into a variation of wheel pose.
- Stay there for a few breaths.
- To come out, slowly lower your hips down to sit on the floor.
Whether you are doing this posture for its beauty or for its strength properties, be sure you listen to your body and pay attention to your shoulders and wrists. These two tend to take a big load as we perform this asana. Once you are there, feel the openness of the chest, the power of your body and allow yourself to breathe, enjoy it!
