April Yoga Challenge, Day 22: Chaturanga Dandasana or just Chaturanga
Little video to show you guys a few variations of Chaturanga Push Ups – I LOVE Chaturanga Push ups! They are such an awesome, effective exercise to strengthen the upper body – shoulders, chest, triceps & core. These push ups can be much harder than your standard push up given the more narrow hand placement. You need to shift more weight forward allowing your elbows to wrap back and hug tightly into your sides which gets the triceps involved/firing even more.
Video Shows: 1) High Plank Chaturanga Push Ups 2) Modified on kness 3) Baby Cheetah/3-point Chaturanga Push Up
Please, Please, Please do not do these in high plank if you don’t have the upper body strength to do them correctly. There is no shame in dropping to your knees. Performing exercises incorrectly creates bad habits and patterns in the body – you do not want to do this! 😉 I even drop to knees depending on what else I’ve done that day/week in workouts. Some days, I walk into class not realizing how fatigued my upper body may be from lifting, boxing or whatever.. and find myself modifying or just skipping chaturanga all together, simply pushing back to down dog. Always listen to your body – it will tell you what it needs. #3 is one of my favorite little baby flows to get the body warmed up – gets every inch of the body working…core when tucking knee to forehead, kick back gets the glutes & hams involved and of course, chaturanga push up for the upper body. Whatever you do, always have fun with your yoga practice! xx
It appears you are in a slight V shape as opposed to a flat plank…is this correct? I think I may do it wrong :-/
oh no, you are correct! My booty just always seems to be in the air. lol
Well if yours always is, then I probably look like I’m in downward dog when I do this! lol.
lol too funny, Amy! A good way to check your form is to film yourself. just stick your iPhone on the floor, hit record, watch it and then try to make corrections. 🙂 Have a great day! xx