Keeping in mind that I am a complete yoga beginner and have no business providing instruction, I still think it’s ok to share some moves with you as inspiration to get to a studio and learn for yourself.

To me, chaturanga is a fancy word for “harder than a push up” that yoga teachers like to say to trick you into thinking you are doing something that is not harder than a push up. It is.

That picture of me up there? It took me 6 months to get to that level. I started out bending my elbows like 2 inches. And I’m still way too high off the ground. You should see the things my yoga teachers do…

Anyway, chaturanga starts in plank.

In a nice solid plank your body should form a straight line from head to toe with arms directly in line with the shoulders. Don’t let your stomach sink or butt rise up.

Exhale and slowly lower keeping elbows in tight to (as in touching) the body. Only lower to a point where you can hold for a few seconds and then push straight up. If you collapse on the way up, you went to far.

In class we do this after almost every single set of moves. That is why people that do yoga have cut arms. Stop doubting yoga. It will kick your ass.