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  • Benefits & Guide to Wheel Pose

    July 20, 2023 3 min read

    Are you looking to spice up your home practice? Do you want a challenge to keep you motivated for the next few months? Do you need to counteract the effects of a sedentary life? Working towards Wheel Pose may be the answer.

    Wheel Pose is an intermediate/advanced backbend. Known as Chakrasana (chakra: wheel) or Urdhva Dhanurasana (urdhva: upwards, dhanura: bow), this is one of those poses that requires commitment, consistency and patience.

    Benefits of Wheel Pose

    Benefits of Wheel Pose

    Backbends are essential poses in yoga and Wheel Pose combines most of the benefits of this posture family. Physically, it helps mobilize the spine, opens the chest and upper back, and stretches the shoulders. It also requires quite a bit of strength in the upper back, shoulder and legs.

    Energetically, this pose is associated with the heart chakra. By opening the front of the body, we tear down the defenses that block us from experiencing love and which constrict our breath. This alleviates heaviness in the chest and restores our energy.

    Wheel Pose Benefits | Mukha Yoga

    Build-Up to Wheel Pose

    Think of it as a pose that needs nurturing because unresolved emotions and bad posture may be restricting your body more than you know. As you work towards this pose, remember to be gentle with yourself and breathe.

    Open your back and shoulders

    • Cat/Cow are great warm ups.
    • Practice Cow Face (use a belt if necessary), Downward Facing Dog, Extended Puppy Pose and Thread the Needle Twist.

    Work on your backbends

    • Cobra Pose and Upward Facing Dog are great to mobilize the spine. Make sure to include them in your Sun Salutations.
    • Practice Camel Pose and Bow Pose.

    Increase your strength

    • The three Warrior Poses and Deep Lunges will help strengthen your leg muscles.
    • Include Planks to work your wrist, shoulder, abdominal and leg strength.

    Wheel Pose Variations

    Ease into full Wheel Pose with the following variations:

    Wheel Pose with a stability ball or yoga wheel

    This variation is perfect for beginners who want to experience a backbend safely. It’s also one of my favorite ways to open my back after long hours in front of the computer.

    1. Sit on the ball and place your hands next to your hips.

    2. Keep your chin tucked to protect your neck.

    3. Slowly walk your feet forward, let your entire back arch over the ball and stretch your arms back.

    4. Play around in this pose to explore how deep you can go. You may also try doing a variation of this with a yoga wheel.

    Wheel Pose against a wall

    1. Stand with your back against a wall and place your hands next to your head.

    2. Slowly push against the wall as you walk away from it.

    3. Slide your hands down as far as you can.

    4. Don’t worry if you don’t reach the floor.

    Wheel Pose with blocks

    1. Prop your blocks against the wall at a 45-degree angle - this gives you extra height.

    2. Enter Wheel Pose by placing your hands on the blocks and lifting up.

    As you explore the physical and emotional benefits of Wheel Pose, embrace the transformative effects of cultivating your inner strength and resilience through the process.

    Wheel Pose Build-Up | Mukha Yoga

    Aimeé Durán Triujeque l Mukha Yoga Writer
    By Aimeé Durán Triujeque; All Rights Reserved @2023

    Aimeé Durán Triujeque l Mukha Yoga Writer By Aimeé Durán Triujeque; All Rights Reserved @2023


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