During Sun Salutation Series In Yoga, I Have Trouble Going From Downward Dog To Plank Then Crocodile
To start with, the Crocodile Pose (Makarasana) figures nowhere in the list of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) Poses. The list of poses in Surya Namaskar is as follows:
I. Namaskar – Salute
2. Ardha Chandrasana – Half Moon pose
3. Padangusthasana – Hand to foot pose
4. Puvottanasana – Inclined plane or Phalankasana (Plank pose)
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward facing dog pose
6. Shashtanga dandawat – Forehead, chest, knee to floor pose
7. Bhujangasana – Cobra pose
8. Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward facing dog pose
9. Surya darshan – Sun Sight pose
10. Padangusthasana – Hand to foot pose
11. Ardha Chandrasana – Half moon pose
12. Namaskar – Salute
You have probably been learning from the wrong sources, either books, CDs, DVDs or Online. But whatever your source, it is wrong. Secondly, nowhere in the entire sequence do you once have to move from downward dog to plank. The sequence is clearly mentioned above. May we take this opportunity to point out what Yoga is all about as well as the hazards of wrong learning.
Yoga is the only holistic science and art of living known to man that covers all facets of his personality – physical, mental and emotional. Yoga is designed to bring about balance and harmony between all the organs and all the systems of the body. The next stage is to bring about balance and harmony between the body, mind and heart, the seat of our emotions. This is both an intensive as well as extensive science that takes into account all the different facets of man, society and his environment and, for his smooth, healthy, happy functioning in life, prescribes a set of norms and techniques. If followed diligently and too the book, the practice of Yoga is known to deliver excellent results.
On the other hand, wrong practices have known to deliver a host of unnecessary problems, very often the ones you sought to eradicate. Most people take refuge in Yoga when in trouble; it could be a nagging backache, persistently hurting hamstrings, sinusitis or asthma, or it could be a host of other psychosomatic problems that plague the world today. Yoga is known to help people suffering from all these problems; but only if practiced right. However, the pitfalls of wrong practices are far too foreboding. A lot of people have developed aches and pains in their bodies where they never even existed and, medical examination has traced it to wrong, erroneous Yoga practice. So please beware, there could be more severe repercussions and consequences to wrong practices. We suggest you enroll into a Yoga institute near your place or work or residence and start practicing under expert guidance.
