kapotasana , To strap or not to strap

Inspired by the Kapo videos on Boodiba's blog http://boodiba3.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-really-hard-in-lot-of-ways-to-watch.html I decided to have a go with strapping up. Don't have any straps? A dressing gown belt and leather belt will do in a pinch.

Took a couple of goes to get the strap right. There's no way I can go directly to keeping my thighs completely perpendicular, am going to have to work up to that. I think I get it about right in the last attempt above, thighs are more upright than usual. but I can still reach the ground and work it without over straining. Nice side effect of the strap is that it gives that little extra support in hanging back, your still doing most of the work but the strap gives you a little more confidence.

So does it work? This is my Kapo afterwards, without the straps, and it felt much stronger and more controlled, I could hang back longer and attempt that side ankle grab (love this, definitely a keeper) from Boodiba's Kapo 2 video. Only problem is that all this strapping up disrupts the practice. perhaps it's worth it though for a couple of weeks.