How to Do Camatkarasana Pose | Wild Thing Pose

Welcome to the exhilarating world of Camatkarasana! We absolutely love this pose because it feels like a giant, joyful burst of sunshine for your entire body. Often called Wild Thing, it’s one of those shapes that invites you to let go of your inhibitions and really feel into your own sense of freedom.

Whether you’re looking to stretch out your chest after a long day or you just want to tap into a bit of playfulness on your mat, Wild Thing is here for you. It’s a beautiful blend of a backbend and a balance, helping you to open up through the front of your body while building strength in your foundation.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to flow into this heart-opening shape with ease and confidence.

How To Do Camatkarasana (Wild Thing Pose)

Warm up your spine
Before we dive into this big heart-opener, let’s make sure the body is ready. Spend a few moments in Sun Salutations or some gentle Cat-Cows to wake up your spine and shoulders.

Find your strong plank
Start in a high plank position with your wrists under your shoulders. Feel the strength in your core and the ground beneath your palms as you prepare to transition.

Step into the transition
Shift your weight into your right hand and roll onto the outer edge of your right foot, almost like you’re heading into Side Plank. Slowly step your left foot back behind you, landing the ball of the foot on the floor with a bent knee.

Lift your hips high
As you inhale, press through your feet and your right hand to lift your hips high toward the sky. Let your body create a beautiful, natural arc. If you need more stability, you can always keep that bottom knee bent or use a block under your supporting hand.

Open your heart space
Reach your left arm overhead and let your heart space expand toward the ceiling. You can let your head gently relax back if that feels okay for your neck, feeling the stretch across your entire front body.

Breathe and feel into it
Stay here for a few deep breaths, feeling the exhilaration of the pose. If you’re practicing this as a “Yin Yoga” style hold (though it’s usually more active!), just be mindful of your shoulder strength and stay for as long as feels nourishing.

Lower down with care
To come out, slowly lower your hips and pivot back around to your high plank. Take a moment in Child’s Pose or a Downward Dog to notice how you feel before switching to the other side.

The Benefits of Camatkarasana (and Yoga in General)

Physically, Wild Thing is a brilliant way to stretch out the entire front of your body. It targets the hip flexors, chest, and shoulders, while also building significant strength in your arms and upper back. By arching the spine, we’re counteracting all that time spent sitting or hunching over screens, helping to improve our posture and spinal mobility.

Beyond the physical, this pose is a powerful heart-opener that can shift your entire mood. Because it’s so expansive, it stimulates the nervous system, providing a natural boost of energy and helping to clear away any lingering feelings of lethargy or stress. It’s a pose that invites you to be vulnerable and courageous at the same time.

This is what we love about Yoga — it’s not just about becoming more flexible or strong. It’s about finding the courage to open your heart, embracing your own unique expression, and remembering that you have the inner strength to support yourself through any transition.

Explore More Yoga Poses

If you enjoyed this pose, you might also love:

• How to Do Bhujangasana Pose | Cobra Pose
• How to Do Ustrasana Pose | Camel Pose
• How to Do Kumbhakasana Pose | Plank Pose

Curious About Yoga Teacher Training?

This pose is one of 108 you’ll explore in our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training — along with yoga philosophy, breathwork, meditation, anatomy, and the confidence to teach.

You don’t need to be the most flexible person in the room. You don’t need to have been practising for years. You just need to be curious and willing to begin. Whether you want to teach professionally, deepen your personal practice, or simply discover more about yourself — this training meets you where you are.

Learn more about Yoga Teacher Training →

Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla