Think you’ll never master Crow Pose? Try this step-by-step tutorial for learning this tricky balance pose!

Crow Pose (Kakasana) – sometimes also called “Crane Pose” although they are actually slightly different poses – can be a tricky one for new – or even practiced – yogis to master. If you struggle with balance poses, or don’t have a lot of upper body strength, you may find Crow Pose especially challenging, or even impossible. However, it is possible to master this pose, even if you have had trouble with it before! It may be a matter of building up your arm strength, or working on your balance skills. Or it could just be a matter of finding an instructor that explains the pose to you in a way that makes it easier for you to enter the pose.

The 17-minute tutorial below will help prepare you to master this intermediate-level balance pose, as you will flow through a series of poses designed to strengthen your core and upper body, and help introduce you to the feeling of the pose. You will then learn how to enter the pose for short periods at a time, building up your balance and strength until you are able to easily hold this pose for longer periods of time.

This tutorial is suitable for those of all levels, but you should avoid this pose if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or recent or chronic shoulder or wrist injuries, or if you are pregnant.

Give this a try daily for the next week or so, and you’ll be hopping up into Crow Pose before you know it!

Need more help? Here are a couple more tips for getting into Crow Pose.