the story of my knee

[Guest guest]

Hello all<br><br>for the past year and a half of

my two years practicing on a serious basis, I have

been dealing with a funky right knee. The first time I

injured it was forcing myself into a full lotus without

any preparations- I should mention that I took up

ashtanga after years and years of lots of running,

aerobics, weight training. For whatever reason, my left leg

is slightly more flexible and from that moment on,

while I was able to do any half bound lotus postures

with my left leg, for my right I wasn't even near

being able to bind it without feeling pain in the

medial region. So as I was just starting out I figured

I'd just let it be and do the practice and all is

coming, etc etc...<br><br>Fast forward to two years

later- I have been practicing first series 6 days a

week-(on my own, no classes in my area although Ive been

able to go to classes out of town every other month or

so).<br><br> While my right hip seems to have opened up-

incrementally- i have gone through a pattern of being able to do

the half lotus postures and full lotus - for about a

week and a half, then the old familiar pain in my

right knee comes back- I spend about 2 weeks, breathing

and telling myself that I will work through it while

the pain increases each day - then finally it comes

to the point where I start feeling it in other

postures and feel certain that Im going to cause myself

some serious damage if I continue all this. This is

the 3rd time in the past 6 months that I have gone

through this.This time around, I've tried a few different

things- the working through it method inspired by a video

tape I watched of Pattabhi (from YogaMoves, Australia)

saying that you need to breathe through it and that the

area needs circulation - I like the theory- but I had

to back off- it wasn't a "good" pain. One of my

teachers also suggested that rather than plowing on

through the whole series I shorten my practice and go on

to backbends right after garbha pindasana- going on

the suggestion that you dont move on until you can

master something and yesterday I began acupuncture

treatments. The practitioner told me that I seem to have a

slight weakness in my kidney/liver area which

corresponds to this part of the knee- nothing at all serious.

She did a variety of things, from iridology to pulse

readings to gentle acupuncture/moxa in my legs, stomach

area, wrists and one "takeaway" thingy which is in my

ear for the next six days. She says my response was

really good and that I should only need a couple more

treatments but she also added that I should make sure that

in practice i have a "smile on my face and a whistle

in my thoughts". Do I feel anything from it? Today's

my day off so I won't be putting it into play, but I

didnt have any pain when I got up this morning- maybe

it had something to do with it - and maybe its just

all wacky like my husband thinks . Tomorrow will be

interesting- although realistically- if this is like the two

other times before, I have a few weeks of healing

before I'm back to normal and I will certainly be

cautious.<br><br> I've heard many thoughts about probs with the

knee- that its a control issue- that is a creativity

issue - that im tight on this side because of my

analytical mind , etc etc and now I am starting to feel

spooked by it. I love and respect this beautiful practice

so much but I also cant help thinking that its hard

to find the balance in ashtanga- if i could only do

these lotus postures without pain- id be onto second

series right now- but isn't that kind of thinking

completely the opposite of what yoga is about? Isnt that

exactly why i dropped all the ridiculous fitness regimes

that I spent my life on in the first place- the goal

setting, the unrealistic pressure? How long can a faithful

practioner expect a stubborn hip to open up without having

to use a sledge hammer- will i ever get over this?

Is there anyone out there who has gone though this

and come out the other side? <br><br>yours in

yoga<br><br>sue

[Guest guest]

You just told my story.<br><br>Tight on the

right, medial pain in the knee...everything is the same

but our gender.<br><br>Over the last 10 years, twice

I've had to quit yoga practice because I insisted on

getting into the holy lotus posture, and my knees had the

last word with their insistence that I stop poste

haste.<br><br>Bottom line I've learned (was told long ago, but

ignored): the hip HAS to open before you ask the knee to go

into radical stretches. There is no way around this,

no way to breath the knee to doing what the hip

won't allow.<br><br>Breathe the hips, yes. The knee,

never.<br><br>Aside from practice, in which I'm not very kind to my

right knee, I'm working with staying in bhadda

konasana, heavy sandbags on knees, to try to bring more

openning to the hips.

[Guest guest]

Correction to last post: should be "aside from practice, in which I'm very kind

to my right knee."

[Guest guest]

Have you ever considered a MRI for an analysis of

what's going on inside the knee? Some of the yoga crew

is very phobic about any type of surgery but it has

its place. There is no amount of Marichasana A-H that

will heal a torn meniscus. A scope is quick and a

person can be back at full speed in 10-12 weeks with

serious rehab. Take it from the pro athletes, the fastest

full recovery to a knee injury like ACL or cartlidge

is via surgery.<br><br>On the other hand, if you are

simply dealing with stiffness that is not arthritis

based, a gradual approach to knee freedom is possible. I

studied privately with Manju for a long time and in class

with him for many more years. He always stressed

rubbing coconut oil into my wrists, elbows and knees. I

laughed at the idea that an external application of oil

could work on the internal functions of these joints.

But I must say, be it coincidence or sheer will, this

method carried me through all the series. We would

grease up in the sand on the beach in San Diego and I

would work on Mulabhandasana or whatever. And yeah, the

hip bone is connected to the knee bone but you can

work and isolate the knee and focus on the hips

later.<br><br>Hari Bol!

[Guest guest]

A friend of mine that is a Nurse and Massage

therapist told me that the FDA has approved a highly

successful horse liniment for human use. Rumor has it that

this stuff is amazing for joints. I have no idea where

it can be bought or what it's called -- Anybody

know?

[Guest guest]

I believe that this Yoga is a gradual process

especially with these strange joint movements like lotus is

concerned. It is best to go really easy with it I think. I

could always do the lotus but not for very long at

first and it bent my foot too much, until I could bring

my foot up to the ankle. But then I injured my knee

slightly running, by going downhill too fast after a break

from my usual program. Although it does not affect my

knee at all unless I run, now sometimes I get aches in

my thigh which last a day or two if I push it too

much which is weird. But I have been doing Yoga for 14

years, I have not made much progress but I have been

into other things. There is no hurry! I suppose it is

obvious, but have you been sitting cross-legged at all

opportunities? I did that for a while which helped. Now I have

been playing Sarod anyway which involves sitting for

long periods, up to 3 hours in a kind of half lotus

(with right leg up)that is more like a half-spinal

twist leg position but with the right knee dropping out

to the right. So if you can think of any activity

that you can do while sitting cross-legged or in the

above posture try that.<br><br>Yours Simon

[Guest guest]

>The first time I injured it was forcing

myself into a full lotus without any

preparations<<br><br>First of all why are you forcing yourself into lotus.

Lotus is a difficult pose and should never be forced,

no asana should ever be forced. Not being able to do

lotus is not the end of the world. Everyones yoga is

different. <br><br>>For whatever reason, my left leg is

slightly more flexible and from that moment on, while I

was able to do any half bound lotus postures with my

left leg, for my right I wasn't even near being able

to bind it without feeling pain in the medial

region.<<br><br>It will always be this way, one side is and will

always be more flexible than the other same with

balance. If you go into a full forward bend with your back

to a mirror (wearing bike shorts) you will actually

see which sits-bone (sp) is higher. That will be your

more difficult side and....... knowing this will allow

you to know that you can only work to create a more

enjoyable practice for yourself.<br><br>>now I am

starting to feel spooked by it. I love and respect this

beautiful practice so much but I also cant help thinking

that its hard to find the balance in ashtanga- if i

could only do these lotus postures without pain- id be

onto second series right now- but isn't that kind of

thinking completely the opposite of what yoga is about?

Isnt that exactly why i dropped all the ridiculous

fitness regimes that I spent my life on in the first

place- the goal setting, the unrealistic pressure?

<<br><br>Sue I think you should just reread this---it answers

your question.<br>There should be a need to get to the

second series. Everyones yoga is different I dont mean

to sound repetitive. In Bikrum I cant do a full

fixed firm pose. I need to sit on a block to get to my

elbows. I rest there and breathe. Dooes this mean my

practice stinks, no of course not . It means Im not going

to kill my knees just to do the asana correctly. I

go where I know my body can go.<br><br>Great thread

Sue, I hope it sheds some light.<br>Dont be so hard on

yourself...<br>~Rose