The Yoga Posture Project

Gherandasana (almost)

Gherandasana | Photos by Lauren Werner

The other day Ida and I went to Lauren Werner's photography studio to participate in the Yoga Posture Project. Lauren is photographing dozens of yogis in their practices in an effort to document the variance and humanity in yoga practice.

We showed up not sure what the experience would be like. Did she want to see postures we struggle with? Did she want to see us falling out of postures? Goofing around? Or postures that are beautiful, strange or serene?

Midway through the session, I started messing around with Gherandasana, the Pose of Gheranda, a sage. I told her that if she wanted to see some flailing, pay attention closely as I try to figure this out. 

The top picture on the left is me trying to get the grip on my right foot and missing. The moment after this my face was on the floor. This pose can be clumsy on the way in. When I finally got both grips, the pose unfolds pretty nicely (the bottom picture). 

The goofiest part of this whole thing is that I never even intended to do this posture. I was preparing my hip for Short Man, and I started exploring into Gheranda for fun. Maybe that's the whole point. A little spontaneity.