Working on basic stretches improves automatically many other asanas, too.
Every day I work on split poses (forward and sidewards). For me the splits are a basic stretches. When the splits are mastered also back bending asanas improve enormously.
The stretching discomfort and the burning of the muscles when working on getting stronger is part of every practice. If one doesn’t like this at all a yoga practice becomes a burden. Today my tolerance to stand this discomfort was high. This always allows me to stay longer in asanas. I’ve the mental strength to repeat challenging poses. With time we learn how to handle this discomfort that comes with yoga but with other sportive activities, too. Deep breathing is a technique to make it bearable. Observing what’s happening is another tool to handle this discomfort.
With time the asanas become easier and easier. Then a practice is rather exhausting than accompanied with discomfort. I’ve been there. I fight myself back to this level.
I take my time. For me my time is spent better when I work on a few asana than to whip myself through a series. Today my focus was back bending.
Time to prepare lunch.