Two Wheels in One Base

by Noa Glow

You hear this phrase in every Bikram Yoga class you take, but what the heck does making your legs look like “two wheels in one base” really mean? Find out now and let your Bow Pose roll!

Bikram Yoga Question:

What does “two wheels in one base” mean?

Answer:

In Bow Pose (Dhanurasana) it’s important not to let your knees go wider than your hips, so thinking of your legs as if they’re two wheels in a fixed base (like the front or rear tires of a car or two wheels of a train on a track with a fixed and never-changing amount of space and distance between them) can help you visualize what your legs should look like in this posture. Also, the image of a “wheel” nicely evokes the rounded shape your body should make when you reach the full expression of this posture. In terms of how much fixed distance or space you should keep between your legs (knees and toes) during the Floor Bow, Bikram’s dialogue specifically states six inches.

Benefits of Bow Pose

• Opens up the rib cage, allowing the lungs to fully expand.
• This 360-degree flexion of the spine revitalizes all the spinal nerves by increasing circulation, and strengthens the spine along its entire length.
• Besides helping with all manner of back problems, Bow Pose aids digestion, fights constipation and combats bronchitis and diabetes while improving the functioning of the large and small intestines, liver, kidneys and spleen.

We’re taking questions from students! If you have a question about Bikram Yoga that you’d like us to answer, just leave a comment below this post or on our Facebook Page. You can also email us or ask your question on Twitter!

Need clarification on any other cryptic Bikram Yoga terms right now? Leave your question below and we’ll do our best to answer it!