One of the great things about this posture is that it is relatively simple for a beginner. But be warned – by simple, we don’t mean easy! One of the most challenging postures to do as a beginner, this posture builds mental and physical resilience, is a great calorie burner and will tone the entire body.
How to set it up?
Stretch tall in the set-up, keep your arms and head together and stomach in. Try to keep your arms and head together the whole time, just like Paula is doing.
Keep both legs locked to provide a firm foundation for the rest of the body. When you are doing Tuladandasana, anchor your focus to a point in the mirror. This will help you to maintain your balance. When you come down keep your eyes still. You are focusing through the mirror, not on it.
Benefits of Balancing Stick
The forward tilt of your torso sends high-speed blood pouring into the heart, especially the neglected lower region, cleaning out the veins and all the arteries, therefore strengthening the heart muscle. The same rejuvenating flood rushes into the brain as well.
Like standing head-to-knee and standing bow-pulling pose before it, bringing the chest parallel to the floor helps to stimulate and strengthen the heart muscle giving huge cardiovascular benefit.
Your lower legs and particularly the inner muscles of your quadriceps (front of the thigh) will become stronger and will develop higher endurance. It requires extreme concentration and mental focus to hold the posture for the duration. 10 seconds can seem like a very long time! By perfecting balance and body control, balancing stick strengthens physical, psychological, and mental powers.
Imagine you are trying to stretch your shoulders forward to the mirror. This posture is excellent for relieving any stress and tension along your entire spine. Your body posture will improve as well, as the muscles of your lower back and shoulders will be strengthened.
In fact, this posture is one of the best exercises for bad posture.
As you become stronger and more proficient in this posture, every muscle will be contracted in your body as you learn to concentrate your mind for 10 honest seconds.
Bikram says “The hardest thing in human life is to concentrate, even for ten seconds.”