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Workshop

Explore Forearm Balances & Handstands with Claudiu Arama

20 & 21 January 2024

About this workshop

Originally from Romania, Arama discovered his passion for sports at an early age, engaging in various disciplines like athletics, fitness, and climbing. At 17, he found a new interest in Aerobic Gymnastics and competed at national and European levels. After his athletic career, he pursued a coaching path, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science with a specialisation in Gymnastics.

While following his coaching aspirations, Arama also explored opportunities in modeling, acting, and worked as a part-time personal trainer across Asia.

In 2010, Arama’s life took a turn when he experienced a herniated disc in Shanghai. He turned to yoga, incorporating various poses and movements with a balanced diet, leading to a full recovery. Inspired by this experience, he explored deeper into the world of yoga alignment and movement.

With his diverse experiences, Arama now shares his expertise by merging the benefits of yoga and gymnastics in workshops across Asia.

With a passion for empowering others, Arama continues to inspire and positively impact lives through his unique teaching style.

Students will build competence and confidence in the below poses/transitions

  • Crow
  • Side Crow
  • Crane
  • One-Legged Crow (Versions 1 and 2) and Crow to Chaturanga
  • Downward Dog to Crow
Saturday, 20 January Session 1: 9:00am-11:30am Forearm Balances Session 1 starts with a 20-minute full-body warm up to prepare participants for the session.
Skills and techniques for a headstand and forearm balance(pincha), including how to safely enter and exit these poses, will be introduced. This session will also focus on alignment and practise basic balancing positions, such as straight leg headstand, tripod, and forearm balance pincha.
Session 2: 11:00pm-3:30pm Intermediate/Advanced Forearm Balances Session 2 will begin with more advanced entries, exploring tuck and straddle positions and participants will practise balancing in half and full straddle, diamond, and tuck positions.
Basic core and shoulder conditioning will be incorporated to enhance stability and strength.
The session will end with a Q&A, during which Arama will discuss and demonstrate breathing techniques, core engagement through diaphragm activation, shoulder elevation and protraction of the scapulae.
Sunday, 21 January

Session 3: 9:00am-11:30am Handstands Starting with a 20-minute full-body warm up to prepare participants for handstand practice, this session will cover skills and techniques for handstands, including how to enter and safely exit out of the pose. There will be a focus on alignment as well as practising of basic balancing positions, such as straight leg and tuck handstands.
Session 4: 1:00pm-3:30pm Intermediate/Advanced Forearm Balances This session is open to all levels and the only basic requirement is the ability to kick up against a wall and hold arm balances for at least 30 seconds. With this foundation, participants will build upon their existing skills and take them to new heights.