How to teach crocodile pose (Makrasana) Using Imagery

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How To Teach Crocodile Pose (Makrasana) Using Yoga Imagery

In this post, you’ll discover how to teach crocodile pose using yoga imagery.

My name is George Watts.

I’m a BWY yoga teacher and have taught 800+ classes in the last 15 years.

I hope you’ve been enjoying the hundreds of free yoga class planning tips, ready-to-use yoga class plans, and yoga class handouts on my site. They are resources that I’ve personally used for my own yoga classes.

So, let’s start with the Sanskrit for crocodile pose.

The Sanskrit For Crocodile Pose

Makrasana

Makara = Crocodile
Asana = Posture

Makrasana is pronounced as “Mah-krah-ah-suh-nuh.”

Here’s a breakdown:

Ma – like “ma” in “mama”
kra – like “kruh” in “crust”
a – like “uh” in “sofa”
sana – like “suh-nuh” (soft ‘a’ sound)

Crocodile Pose Imagery

Access to ancient knowledge
Connection to mother earth
Initiation
Maternal protection
Patience
Primal energies

Three Crocodile Pose Themed Yoga Lesson Plans

Here are three ideas to theme your next class around “Crocodile Pose”.

Caring Crocodile Yoga Lesson Plan Theme
In the wet season when water is high, crocodiles dig deep burrows that in the dry season are wet alcoves to which they retreat. As well as this, the alcoves act as reservoirs from which other animals drink. Water is the giver of life, and though the crocodile is widely regarded as a mindless beast, the sharing of these reservoirs shows that the crocodile respects all life forms. When practising Crocodile Pose, be mindful of your actions. Find ways to benefit yourself and others just like the crocodile reservoirs.

Mindful Eating Yoga Lesson Plan Theme
Crocodiles eat any animal they can get their chops on, and if unable to swallow it whole, will tear it into bite-size pieces. DELICIOUS! Yet they never eat unnecessarily. When practising Crocodile Pose, be mindful of what you get your chops on. Seek balance. Neither overeating nor under eating. If you eat lots of processed and sugary foods, don’t bother listening to your body to find out if it’s full because these kinds of synthetic foods trick you into thinking you’re not full. That’s why approximately 60 to 70% of us are fat! We simply don’t have the “my tummy is a full signal” of a Crocodile. The only way is to reduce the number of fake foods you eat, and add more real, live foods (veggies and fruit).

Patience Of A Crocodile Yoga Lesson Plan Theme
Crocodiles are one of the most patient animals on the planet. They conceal themselves in mud and water, and wait for many hours in total stillness for unsuspecting prey to come by and quickly snap it up! When in Crocodile Pose soak up the patience of a Crocodile. Enjoy the stillness.

Crocodile Pose Teaching Steps

Lie on your belly
Elbows in front of your shoulders
Open legs wide
Roll heels in
Press pubic bone into the floor
Belly soft
Tuck the chin into the throat so the back of the neck is long
Forehead on forearm
Release on exhale by bringing feet together and turning head to rest cheek on the floor

Crocodile Pose Video

Crocodile Pose Benefits

Excellent for keeping the spine healthy
Used as a rest in between postures

Crocodile Pose Precautions

Ankle injury
Knee injury

It’s time for my conclusion, and why I love using yoga card decks as props in my classes.

George’s Conclusion: Using Yoga Card Decks As Fun, Easy-to-Use Teaching Props

I hope you enjoyed how to teach crocodile pose using yoga imagery.

If you’re a fellow yoga teacher, I’ve got a hunch you’re gonna love my Online Yoga Lesson Planner.

As a Yoga teacher, I’m always looking for fun, easy-to-use teaching aids to make your classes engaging, informative, and effective. That’s why I create yoga card decks. Each deck has been painstakingly crafted to serve as a quick-reference guide, teaching aid, or lesson-planning tool, designed with Yoga teachers, and serious students, in mind.

Chakra Chair Yoga Card Deck: 52 Cards For Mind-Body Unity

The Chakra Chair Yoga Card Deck is a transformative tool designed for yogis of all levels, especially those seeking a gentle, accessible practice. This beautifully illustrated 52-card deck combines the wisdom of the chakra system with the ease of chair yoga, offering a unique way to balance your energy centres while staying grounded and supported.

Chakra Chair Yoga Expansion Card Deck: 52 More Cards For Mind-Body Unity

The Chakra Chair Yoga Card Deck was so popular that I created the Chakra Chair Yoga Expansion Deck with another 52 chair yoga exercises.

Blissful Breathing Card Deck: Your Guide To Mastering Pranayama

The Blissful Breathing Card Deck is your go-to resource for mastering the art of pranayama (yogic breathing). With 41 beautifully designed cards, this Blissful Breathing Card Deck guides you through a wide variety of breathing techniques to enhance relaxation, focus, and vitality.

Face Yoga Card Deck: 50 Cards For Youthful Radiance

The Face Yoga Card Deck is a fun and effective way to tone, relax, and rejuvenate your facial muscles. This 50-card deck features simple, step-by-step exercises designed to improve circulation, boost skin elasticity, and promote a radiant, youthful glow.

101 Mini Yoga Cards: With 101 Asana Sanskrit Pronunciations

The 101 Mini Yoga Cards are a compact and versatile resource for yoga teachers and practitioners alike. Each card features an illustrated yoga pose, its English and Sanskrit names, and how to pronounce the Sanskrit name. This makes it easy to plan classes, create sequences, or inspire personal practice while deepening your connection to yoga’s roots.

Zen Of Blissful Boredom Card Deck: 52 Ways To Cultivate Calm

The Zen Of Blissful Boredom Card Deck offers a lighthearted yet profound approach to finding peace in the mundane. Featuring 52 cards filled with simple, humorous, and mindful activities, this deck encourages you to embrace boredom as a gateway to inner calm and creativity.

But don’t stop there. You’re on a roll. You’ll definitely want to look at my 10-step yoga sequencing formula. It’s got lots of infographics to make the learning visual and fun.

“Below are hundreds of yoga lesson planning tips on my blog…to help enlarge your yoga lesson planning brain.” – George Watts

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How To Teach Crocodile Pose (Makrasana) Using Imagery