As one set of our major organs of action, the importance of arms cannot be overstated. This has become especially significant these days as our normal range of arm activities has significantly reduced – we no longer pull, push or lift weights. Instead our lifestyles are such that our arms and shoulders are held in chronically shortened and stressed positions. This manifests sooner or later as aches, pains, discomforts in wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and back. To continue to be productive, we have to ensure that our arms stay in healthy condition. As students of yoga and Asana practitioners, arms play a much wider role. Among many other things, a regular practice of inversions is believed to release tension, increase circulation and energy levels, and strengthen muscles. It’s also thought to promote emotional growth and calm the mind. An agitated mind will surely benefit from a practice of inversions. Arms play a major role in inverted positions.
Our lower limbs (legs) and our upper limbs (arms) are attached to our trunk through ball and socket joints – to give maximum possibility of movement of these limbs. However, unlike the hip socket , the shoulder socket is shallow. This gives the arms a wider range of movement, but also makes the shoulder joint more prone to injury. It becomes all the more important to strengthen its connection with the shoulder-blades, and to the spine, in order increase the efficiency of arm use.
This is not a Beginner level Course as the actions are nuanced, and require some patience and experience. There are not many gross actions, and yet through intelligent actions, arms are connected to the shoulders, the spine, the sides of the body, to the breath, ultimately culminating in effortlessness in Inverted positions.
Tagwords: shoulder, shoulders, arms, upper back, elbows, wrist, arm strength, Tadasana, adhomukhasvanasana, urdhva hastasana, bakasana, utthita hasta padasana, paschima hastasana, sirsasana, pincha mayurasana, bakasana, sarvangasana, ek pada sarvangasana, virabadrasana1, virabadrasana3
This Short Course is in FOUR Parts:
Part1: The ‘Arm Experience’ and the ‘Arm Explanation’: Anatomical Information and Subjective Knowledge
Part2: Strengthening the Weak Underbelly of the Arms: The Triceps
Part3: Breath Supporting Arm Actions to lift up to Inversions
Part4: Arms Connecting to Sides for Effortless Inversions (Headstand, Shoulderstand and Elbow Balance)
