Asana Focus – Visvamitrasana is a pose named after a fierce king who transformed himself into a yogic sage Visvamitra in ancient India.The complexity of the pose can look overwhelming and lead to the illusion that it is inaccessible. Indeed, it can be difficult to master as it incorporates many components,including a hip opener, hamstring stretch, side body stretch, an arm balance, and it requires strength and balance. As you learn to practice this pose, remember that it is a combination of rather simple actions put together in a complex way. Instead of letting the big picture overwhelm your mind, you can break the pose down into simple bite-sized portions and work towards the mastery of each, one step at a time.For instance, Parivritta Janu Sirsasana will help you to open the side body, hamstrings and inner thighs with less intensity. Baddha Parsvakonasana will bring your attention to planting the back foot and prepare your shoulders for the demands of the final pose.Side plank will train you in the arm-balancing department.Then you can attempt a modified version of Visvamitrasana with the back knee down on the floor for support.With dedication, all of the seemingly separate parts and actions will come together, and the energy of Visvamitrasana will come alive. The full pose might eventually emerge, just like a butterfly out of its cocoon, when you least expect it. And even if your body cannnot flow into full pose effortlessly, you will gain a deeper understanding of your skills and limitations and practice untangling a complex scenario with poise and equanimity- a valuable lesson you can take off the mat when life throws another inevitable challenge at you.