Wild Thing Pose (Sanskrit: Camatkarasana / चमत्कारासन)
A refreshing heart-opening asana, Camatkarasana is also known as the Wild Thing Pose or the Flip Dog Pose. It is called the Wild Thing because after practicing this pose many practitioners feel a sense of freedom, joy, self-love, and fearlessness. In Sanskrit, the word ‘Camatka’ means a surprise or a miracle. Practiced on a single hand, it stretches the spine and works on the arms and shoulders.
Instructions for Doing the Wild Thing Pose
- Start by getting into the final position of Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) with your four limbs firmly placed on the floor and your legs stretched out straight.
- Shift your weight to your right hand and then roll onto your right foot as if you are doing the Side Plank Pose.
- Exhale, and step your left foot backward and rest your toes on the floor while keeping your knee slightly bent.
- Now, inhale and lift your hips a bit higher and at the same time, deepen the backbend.
- Throw your head back and extend your left arm.
- Hold this position for 5 to 15 breaths, breathing normally, without any jerks.
- To release the asana, come back to step 1’s position (Downward-Facing Dog) and then repeat the other side. Again, hold for another 5 to 15 breaths and then relax.
Benefits of Doing the Wild Thing Pose
- This asana stretches and tones the spine, chest, shoulders, arms, hamstrings, neck, psoas, and thighs.
- It builds upper body strength and improves spinal mobility and flexibility.
- This pose helps relieve tension and reduces chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Camatkarasana builds the core strength and improves the function of the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs.
- It also boosts the immune system as well as the digestive system.
- Your sense of balance increases and you feel calm and relaxed.
Precautions
- Do not practice this asana if you have a wrist, cuff, shoulder, neck, elbow, knee, ankle, spinal, or rib injury.
- Those with carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, sciatica, or a serious heart ailment should also refrain from practicing this asana.