Learn the arm balance eight angle pose (astavakrasana) step-by-step. This pose requires core and upper body strength, and very open hips and hamstrings. A sense of humor is also helpful! After you watch, try the classes below that prepare the body and build up to this advanced arm balance.
Here are some classes featuring Eight-Angle Pose.
By Ally Hamilton on Sep 4, 2021
I've had so many requests lately for grounding practices. Here's one of my answers :) This is a methodical steadily-paced class where we go deeper and deeper into the hips, hamstrings and shoulders as we build heat and focus on deep breathing. You will feel your body start to release layers of tension if you can make this whole practice about breathing deeply and staying curious. You can expect to sweat, we work hard, do core strengthening, arm balancing and inverting, but the emphasis is on staying rooted. Intermediate students are welcome, just please listen to your body and don't force anything! Sending you all a lot of love. Keep breathing ;)
By Ally Hamilton on Jul 15, 2021
This is a steady, heat-building flow where we go deeper and deeper into the hips but we keep it casual. We're not trying to get anywhere, we're just enjoying the experience of practicing together, listening intently to what our bodies have to tell us, and seeing what unfolds. This is an intermediate flow, but we do play with some advanced poses without any pressure whatsoever, and with modifications offered so you can turn the heat up or down!
By Ally Hamilton on Jul 9, 2021
How open do you want to get? Asking because this practice will deeply open your hips and shoulders so we can play with some fun poses that include compass pose, eight-angle pose, every pigeon variation you can think of including Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, along with back bends, core work and opportunities to get upside down! We follow up this fun, deeply opening practice with yoga nidra in savasana. Give yourself some extra time to go deep and see what you find :)
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 12, 2021
If you're looking for something super deep and fun - fast! - look no further. We do lots of heat-building on the early side, give the hips a lot of love, fire up that core (hello 6-minute abs you love), and fly! Koundinyasana 2, bhujapidasana, firefly pose, eight-angle pose and a wide straddle upside down. Of course we do lots of shoulder-opening along the way and our constant companion is deep, conscious breath. Couldn't decide between intermediate or advanced for this one - strong intermediate yogis are welcome, just listen to your body, have blocks handy and remember you can pause the video to work on a pose anytime!
By Lauren Peterson on Feb 23, 2021
We are working towards an advanced arm balance in this class. Despite that, this is an intermediate class, culminating in an advanced pose. We do a lot of hip and hamstring stretches to prepare to do the eight-limbed pose. There's also a nice balanced flow of standing poses and backbends. I encourage you to play! Enjoy!
By Ally Hamilton on Jan 22, 2021
Ready for some fun? This is a deep, hip-opening class where we get right to it! A fun mandala-making beginning followed by heat-building and core strengthening leading up to compass pose, and eight-angle pose! An all-over feel-good flow with special love for your hips, sure to energize you and also bring a smile to your face. Enjoy!
By Ally Hamilton on May 4, 2020
This is a sweaty fun flow that targets the hips, hamstrings and shoulders and fires up the core so we can play with bird of paradise, koundinyasana 2, standing frog variations, eight-angle pose, and maybe a wide straddle handstand at the end. So much hip-opening, you're sure to feel a release of tension in your body and your mind. Make deep, steady breath your focal point and all will unfold! Much love, yogis. Thinking of you all and sending lots of love.
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 3, 2020
Great for days when you have a good amount of energy and really want to open your hips, fire up your core and play! On the way to eight-angle pose we hit all kinds of stops including 6-minute abs, koundinyasana II, bird of paradise and all the building blocks you need to open your hips deeply and see what happens as you approach astavakrasana. As always, it's the journey and not the destination, so grab your mat and let's have some fun!
By Missy White on Apr 1, 2020
If you are pressed for time but need a kick-ass class, look no further! This class is filled with all of your favorite arm balances and cool transitions to keep your mind fresh and your body strong :)
By Kate Duyn on Feb 25, 2020
Lead us from the unreal to the real, from the darkness to the light, from the fear of death to the knowledge of immortality - bring us to that knowledge of oneness. We start with the asatoma sadgamaya prayer and move into a deep and fluid flow that opens the shoulders, upper back, chest, hips and hamstrings so we can play with funky eight-angle pose and one-legged-crow-meets-shayanasana :) Peace, yogis!
Ally Hamilton
