9 Steps Tutorial to Grasshopper Pose
Parsva Bhuja Dandasana is not a beginner arm balance; it requires wrists, core strength, as well as open hips, and intense torsion of the torso.
Perhaps, you won’t be able to perform Grasshopper after the first try, but with those simple exercises, you will.
1) Take the knee of a leg above up, sink the hips towards the floor. Breathe x10 times.
2) Rock the baby to release hips tension and prepare the knee to bend and twist to the side.
3) Double pigeon, if you feel pain in your knees, do not push down, try to relax and breathe x10 times
4) When you feel comfortable enough, twist to the side, and breathe x10 times
5) Bend forward and try to place the foot into the armpit, prayer hands, relax, and breathe x 10 times
6) Now, the hip opening and the twist start to get really intense. Bend the leg below, place the foot of the opposite leg, safely (be sure to not strain the ankle) near to the knee. Twist to the side, and slide gently the foot into the armpit. Breathe x10 times
7) Then, come to chair pose, place the foot of the leg you are working slightly higher than the knee of the opposite leg. Twist to the side and try to place the foot into the armpit. Shift the body weight forward. The foot is still on the ground
8) Inhale, lift the foot from the ground, Exhale.
9) Inhale, extend the leg below and breathe x5 times.
Repeat the same sequence with the other leg.