Guest guest Posted July 13, 2000 Report Share Posted July 13, 2000 Thank you for the great advice on accomplishing Marichyasana A and B, but my problem is specifically C & D. A lot has to do with the very limited range of motion I have in my back (which has slowly improved since starting Astanga almost a year ago). I am slowly working towards these postures by pushing my upper arm into the outside of the opposite leg while twisting and slowing trying to work my upper arm further and further down as I twist (does this make sense). This is just to accomplish C. I cannot even get my arm to twist around my leg and go back without the assistance of my teacher who then literally holds me in this position for the five breaths (or I should say as I TRY to breathe which is extremely difficult). I realize some of you are of the school that I obviously am not ready for this posture and should skip it altogether; however my teacher believes in adjusting as needed for the posture as you learn it (which I'm thankful for). I just wanted to know if anyone had any other ideas on working towards these two postures. <br><br>Thanks for your input.<br><br>Namaste<br>M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2000 Report Share Posted July 14, 2000 I found that the key to D (and C) is the placement of the upright knee.<br><br>So maybe try this: put your left foot in ardha baddha, and raise your knee on the right. From there, do a bit of "cheating" with that right knee -- don't keep it sticking straight up towards the ceiling (you'll just make things very hard on yourself), but angle that knee as much as you can toward your left. To help with this, you'll slide your right foot outward away from your hips a bit in order to get as much of a leftward angle to your right leg as you can.<br><br>From there, do a bit of flexing of that right knee toward the left. Initiatlly that's where you'll be stretching in order to get into the posture.<br><br>Steady from there and with much concentration, start reaching out around that right leg, inch by inch if necessary. You may need someone to help pull that arm to where you can get your armpit on or around your right knee -- that's the goal.<br><br>From there bend your forearm around (even by using your other hand to help), reach around and you've got it.<br><br>All else being equal, accomplishing D has more to do with technique and attitude than raw flexibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2000 Report Share Posted July 14, 2000 I just finished a 7 day teacher's training with David Swenson (which I found is well worth the time & money) and one of the oodles of things I learned was an approach to the Marichyasanas I didn't know about so thought I'd share since it's amazingly relevant.<br><br>For Marich A I'd always thought you needed to have your sitting bones on the floor but I discovered (and now see in photos) that lifting the bent knee sit bone(top of femur) gets me way more forward and into the posture<br><br>For Marich C I found out that you're meant to have both sit bones on the ground but if it helps you get into the posture try lifting one side as long as you listen to your knees, breathe and don't force anything. Over time work towards getting the sitting bones back on the floor.<br><br>For B & D be extraordinarily careful with everything to avoid being a new member of the knee injury club I hear is forming.<br><br>Thanks to everyone for all the input into the discussion, I find it really valuable.<br><br>Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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