Hot Yoga Pose Forums > Ustrasana: It's Camel TIme!
Love your Beach Ball visualization, Brittany. I used to visualize going up and over a hurdle at my lower back. Some people like to imagine a rope around the hips pulling the hips forward into the front mirrors which actually does help to lift the chest as well. Visualizations in yoga become feeling-izations: what you picture your body quickly gets into the feeling of and then you're really cooking!
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
Some teachers would encourage you to just grab your heels already, Chrissy and Lisa - sort of the way we encouraged you to try Toe Stand after enough Tree-second-poses - but in the case of Camel I would wait for that blissful moment when you lift your chest high enough, let go of your lower back and notice how your chest remains lifted as you simply reach your hands back and there they are...on your heels. This is a feeling worth waiting for
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
MY FAVORITE POSE! Ever since I began practicing I loved this pose. It always made me feel so alive. Irronicly when I was having my emotional reapsonses in class when I was relaxing all the resistance, I expected t to happen here since in the script it even says “you might feel lightheaded, dizzy or emotional.” But I never have. It’s always been a safe spot, a place I can put myself into to feel relaxed and open and free. I love the lift I can now get out of my chest since I’ve opened it and I love entering this pose without the support of my hands on my back (on my thighs instead) it makes this pose have a whole new depth and intensity that I now crave. I remember I painted this pose with a tree growing from the females breath. It’s honestly how this pose makes me feel.
Stephanie
I have come to enjoy this because the more I practice I’m not feeling the nausea or lightheaded feelings any more. I am getting the benefits but I’ve learned to let go and just listen to my body to go further or just keep my hands at my back. I’ve written so much about this pose because of it opening up my heart chakra that it is such an uplifting pose that anything can come out during or faster this pose because it makes me so open and vulnerable. I appreciate and accept what this pose brings me each time.
maria
This is one I need to take slowly. Early on, I had difficulty breathing, and would feel dizzy. Now, I make sure I take my time and the lightheadedness, better. I like the stretch of the chest and lifting. From what Maria said, it may just take time. I am enjoying more
amy
This is one of my favorite poses. I love the feeling of opening my chest and the incredible stretch down the front of my body! I have recently been able to see where the wall meets the floor. Not always but it happens more and more and it feels amazing. I really focus on lifting my chest and pushing my hips forward, every time I make an adjustment.
Jeanne
Look at all the varying responses to this pose! From LOVE LOVE LOVE to cautiously approaching it, Camel will make a master out of you! Maria, this pose is indeed a heart opening and generally opening the heart is something we all crave...even if it feels vulnerable at first. And so, Amy, your idea to take is slowly and with great patience and deliberate care, is a good tip. And it so also physically gratifying, Jeanne, to simply look for that place where the floor meets the back wall and SEE IT! Lifting the chest is just so....uplifting!
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
Ah Camel, the myriad reactions from different people, the different reactions on different days, loving it, cautious about it, but no one seems indifferent to it. For me the gauge of my emotional well-being. Backbends are normally my happy place so when camel feels dizzy or nauseous I know there is some stuff on the inside that needs to come to the outside. It's like a thermometer for my soul. From working with my Guru I have started to alternate my Camels one with my hands at the lower back, going back with ease. One with my hands higher up and only going so far back to open and arch more of my back higher up. It has been an interesting experiment and I think it is helping to get more movement in my thoracic spine.
Paula
I love Paula's idea about this pose being a thermometer for the soul, and all the beautiful complexities of this pose that come with people's different experiences with reactions, as well as our own experiences and reactions. I think I inadvertently hold back in this pose because I think the vulnerability that this pose brings. I am looking forward to more self-discovery and getting deeper into my soul with this pose as I continue to practice.
Gabrielle offered an interesting cue that I don't hear in our class, and that is to put your hands to the ankle only if you can see the floor and the wall meet behind you. Thoughts on this, versus simply reaching back to grab your ankles?
Pamela
I like the feeling of this pose--still cannot touch my heels, but by lifting my chest I am almost there. I finally identified the feeling that I get when leaning back--it is similar to how I feel when I do something scary--like go on a roller coaster or jump off the Cape May Ferry for the Escape the Cape triathlon. It is kind of a good scary feeling if you just let it be.
irenem
We are all loving your "thermometer for the soul" description of Ustrasana Paula! It does bring you right in touch with your deepest sense of self - vulnerability exposed - and that can be exhilarating or scary on any given day. Best to stay present and notice it, just as you're doing! And great how your GURU is walking you through some physical experiments in letting go...as you stay present for the emotional soul release
Pamela, I think this cue from Gabrielle is a good one and its one I used to offer...but I also noticed that some students have the chest lifted and lower back arched enough to reach the HEELS (not ankles) but neck mobility is not yet there...so I like the "reach back and test it for yourself" cue, reminding students not to LEAN back just to REACH back and find the heels right there waiting for your grip
Irene - what if you started your comment with "identified the feeling I get when leaning back...a good scary feeling!" rather than leading with what you CANT do! Even if you follow it up with something more positive, noticing what you CANT do is still your predominant bent and perhaps its time to let THAT go and see how much higher you can fly by starting on higher vibrational ground!
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I do feel progressing deeper in the pose. Not ready to reach my knees though. For some reason the challenge for me is in upper body, most of the stretch I feel is in my arms. I love Rhonda's analogy about big hook puling the chest up. It works well for me reminding me to lift my chest.
Irina
Camel was very emotional for me at first. I would get dizzy and feel very sad. Now it's just powerful. I feel elated and powerful after this pose.
Erica
I love this pose. I feel like it opens me up and pulls out all the kinks - physically and mentally! I do full an intense stretch in my neck, really my throat. I lift the chest and it doesn’t help. I separate my teeth and that helps a little ~ but I a, working on having my voice being heard. Any suggestions to soften it in the pose? And how do I get my head to the floor.
Lisa N
The only incorrect word is full- it shouls say - i feel an intense stretch in my neck , actually my throat! I am also asking about the advance pose that is in the master book, drop back amd bring head to floor...
Lisa N
I'm not reaching back quite yet either, Lisa, but I'm excited for when I do. I used to dread this pose. It always made me feel nauseated. Now, I really look forward to it. It feels like such a rush when we lie down in savasana after camel, and I'm always so excited to see where I am in the pose that day. I feel like this is one pose where learning about holding space for myself has made it a million percent more enjoyable for me. I'm not reaching my heels yet, but I'm not upset about it or frustrated like I used to be. Now, I'm just excited to see where I am each time I go into the pose, and happy that I'm giving my body this great gift of a deep backbend, and pushing my edge a little bit each time.