Building strength for Nakrasana

A couple of years ago, I finally faced the challenge of developing strength for Nakrasana.  I could hold Chaturanga Dandasana just fine, but, when I tried to jump, my crocodile looked more like a slithering snake.  Friends made suggestions; none seemed to help. Eventually I remembered how hard it had always been for me to lift my own weight up from Chaturanga Dandasana to inclined plane. I realized I needed to work on strength as a starting point for Nakrasana.  At first I couldn’t even lift up once. I had to start by lowering myself partway down and pressing back up. With time and persistence, the strength grew. Now I practise this almost every day.  As for my crocodile, while it doesn’t jump very high, it does get lift-off! – Barbara Young, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher