Perch, Pause, and Take Flight

I don’t actually remember my very first Crow Pose, but I do remember someone suggesting a “crash pad” aka a bolster, blanket, or even a sweatshirt bunched up in front of me to soften the landing. At the time, it felt like such a relief. Just having the knowledge of a soft landing place, gave me a little more courage to try.

The truth is, even though I’m capable of flying my Crow now, there are still days where it doesn’t show up “well”…or at all (lol). Some days I lift easily, other days I hover, and some days it’s just not happening. That unpredictability has become one of the biggest lessons the pose offers: Crow isn’t about whether or not I can nail it every time, it’s about how I approach it.

Crows in nature release the perch to take flight. Most of us, though, cling to what feels safe. We hang on to fears about falling, to anticipation of what might happen, to “what if-ville.” It weighs us down. But the moment we lean forward with even a little trust, we spread our wings. That’s when creativity, possibility, and joy can swoop in.

And here’s the thing: our bodies and minds don’t learn by nailing the “final” pose right away, we learn by exploring, experimenting, repeating. Crow isn’t only practiced balancing on your hands. You can shape it in Child’s Pose, tucking your knees in without lifting, or practice on your back or even seated, working the core and legs. These variations aren’t “less than”, they’re the stepping stones to teach the body and nervous system what flight actually feels like.

Whether you're hovering above the mat, exploring the shape on your back, or still perched with anticipation, Crow reminds us flight begins the moment we believe it’s possible. As Nelson Mandela wisely said: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

In yoga, as in life, it’s not the fall that defines us; it’s what we do next. It’s showing up again, leaning in, and giving ourselves the chance to fly. As the Japanese proverb says, “If you fall down seven times, get up eight.”