How to practice forearm balance with a block and a strap

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽.

In Forearm balance, the actions of the shoulders and the scapula are laterally rotated.

However, the rotation of the arm can be subjective.

Let’s try them all! 😀

Most students struggle to keep the elbows in line with the shoulders in forearm balance.

The use of a yoga strap above the elbows (about shoulder wide the distance) can avoid the the splaying of the elbows.

Then place the block horizontally on the mat and we will experiment different arm position.

👉 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗵.

Firm the side of your hands, wrists and forearms firmly on the floor.

Beginners usually like this version because it’s less demanding for the shoulders than the classical form (palm facing down)

👉 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽, 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱.

Hands turn out with the pinky fingers curled on top of the side edge of the block and turn the thumbs towards the floor.

This version is by far the best to keep the elbows close together. The “challenge” is we are not used to turning the hands out!!

👉 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱

This is the classical form. It’s also by far the hardest position to keep the elbows in line with the shoulders.

In general, forearm stands need more shoulder flexibility in shoulders than handstands.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Give it a try!