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Every few weeks, I like to get my yoga classes to practice the yoga frog pose. In the mixed ability yoga classes this is more of the tadpole pose.
So why do the tadpole pose of frog pose?
The Frog Pose is considered a mid-level yoga pose, and helps to focus your mind to the benefits of the pose. Its main benefit is to mobilise the hip joints. The pose, when done with understanding, delivers a deep stretch to your hips (ball & socket joints) and also the inner thighs. The inner thigh muscles of Abductors, Adductors and Grisailles tend to get weak through lack of use. Stretching these muscles is vital to keep them active and also helps to balance the hips. The tadpole pose however, can be hard on the knees. If your knees are weak then do ensure to have your blanket at the ready before you start on the posture and place it under your knees for a softer and improved support for your knees. If you have any lower back issues, make sure to keep your abdominal muscles tensed and dont arch your back too much.
This posture is always done with trepidation, especially for those who have never experienced it. I also find that experienced students ask for the posture because it is one the finest postures to deliver a great feeling of opening the hips and working the ball and socket joint.
Students should always start on this posture with guidance from their yoga teacher or as per the yoga teacher course, simply because there are lots of instructions to be followed. However, to do the tadpole posture, start with sitting in cross-legs position. From there you roll forward to bring your knees as wide as the mat, your palms under your shoulders and you are now leaning forward with your big toes touching.
Having leant Yoga teacher training uk forward, now walk the hands forward until your chest rests on the mat. At the same time make sure your toes are well off the mat, and ankles are crossed. Once you have settled down on to the mat, then do the posture by helping to push one set of toes towards the mat, WITHOUT lifting the pubic bone off the floor. This may come easy to you or your toes may not reach the mat.
Once you have done one sidetouched the toes to the mat, then you bring the feet back up and cross your feet the other way and repeat the move. Bring the other toe to the mat.
Gradually, and with practice you will be able to bring both the toes down to the mat, without lifting your pubic bone off the mat.
This truly works the ball and socket joints and scores of muscles, tendons, ligaments, arteries, veins and nerves in the hip area to their maximum.
This is a great position for all students who do not have much experience in yoga, as well as for more experienced yogis. It provides a wonderful way to tone and stretch muscles in your legs, abdominal area, and most important there is great movement in the ball and socket joints.
The reason why I do this particular yoga pose is because I want to keep my hips mobile, flexible and strong.
