Chaturanga Dandasana and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

Chaturanga Dandasana & Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

A secret bliss is hidden in every pose and counterpose couple. 

Chaturanga Dandasana and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana are indivisible partners in the vinyasa cycle. They work in total symbiose, like 2 faces of the same character. The resilience of the first leads to the expansion of the second. 

First comes Chaturanga Dandasana, the sun side. Stiff and straight as a stick, we build strength and determination in the body and the mind. We gather all your forces to hold this low plank. Every muscle is contracted to avoid the fall, we are Resistance. We fight against the odds. We might go through tough times, we might be injured, we might be lost, but we hold and build strength. And we hold longer than we think because the figure of the Wild Woman is watching us. She is the old guardian of our wild nature and when we finally rise up and release, her wild metaphoric nature wins us.

Here she is, unleashed at last. The call of the wild woman inside us is awakening the hidden wolf in our heart. She shows us another side of ourselves when we let go and enjoy the intuitive self within. Mind and instinct merge into one. Howling at the moon, we salute our true and authentic wild nature. This flamboyant opening heart renews our vitality. 

Step by step we can learn to balance our wild and tame nature, bringing more moon into the sun and more sun into the moon: can you bring more softness to your forehead and to the corners of your mouth in Chaturanga Dandasana? Can you squeeze your shoulder blades to find more expansion in your chest in Upward Facing Dog? There is always more depth to catch by working on opposite sides. The shift between the two postures will bring synergy to your body and mind. The whole is greater than the sum of its part.