Handstand to Inverted Wheel Pose with The Yoga Way ~ Heather

Shot at the yoga school in Toronto. This is the transition from single leg handstand to vapriata (inverted) chakrasana (wheel) to hastha padasana (forward bend). The inversion into the wheel pose is also called full arm balance (upside down tree or in Sanskrit as adho mukha vrksasana). Before practising this asana sequence, it is necessary to have already mastered or feel comfortable in the wheel (see other videos) including the drop-backs and a simple handstand.

Having learned the wheel posture first and other backbends I added this later while in a handstand. Most people think it is easier to hold a basic handstand easier rather than a backbend down. However, the leverage and balance are actually much more evenly placed when upside down. The advantage of this pose is it will help you develop more flexibility from the handstand than doing wheel from the ground up only.

I say this because while working with the energy of gravity (the natural force of moving to the ground) this puts more pressure on your spine. Surrendering to the posture is key as you allow the natural energy of gravity extend your body over. The place where this gets lost is not being able to hold the tensions. In other words, evenly stretching out the whole body. To allow this to happen: Keep the hands firmly rooted, relax the face, breathe gradually and not forcefully, stretch all the way through the legs and to the toes. The pressure is intense so in the beginning the mind will resist. Relax mentally and try again!

For balance, this posture demands concentration and focus. Using the breath as a force of energy the body is guided from one pose to the next. Without this focus and an inner connection to the prana the position is not much more than gymnastics.