Had an 'opening' today

[Guest guest]

John, I have had similar openings since returning

from Carlsbad, mostly in forward stretches. I'm

locking my hands around my outstretched foot in many

poses, where two weeks ago I couldn't do that. I'm

wondering now if Guruji's "sloppy" adjustments were

actually as "energetic" as they were physical. I think now

that my body might have been capable of doing the

stretch a few weeks ago, but that my mind didn't believe

it. Then PKJ comes along, shoves me down, and it all

feels perfectly safe.<br><br>I wonder also if it's

emotional blockages (as well as just being stiff) in my

back and shoulders that have made backbends so hellish

(sorry -- too judgemental) -- I mean challenging for me

since day one. Sometimes I get teary if someone adjusts

me to go deeper into backbends, some deep emotions

just well up and I have to lay there for awhile and

regroup.

[Guest guest]

edenlotus, I was thinking about you re your

backbend comment. Do you know that one of the first

messages i posted on alt.yoga was something like 'give me

one good reason why i should like backbends'!. I

really despised them and would spend nearly the whole

class dreading/fearing them.<br><br> A couple lines

i've heard/read have kept me going <br>1) Backbends

are not a violent pose - a teacher said that, and

when I'm struggling I try to remember to ease up,

breath, relax<br><br>2) Backbends are good for depression

- i keep this in my arsenal so when im about to go

into them i think ok, if im feeling emotionally

crappy, this is my tonic. I dont think theres anything

wrong with releasing deep emotions and getting teary

eyed - all the better to release that- its a good

thang.<br><br>3)Backbends open the heart- thinking about my chest being the

place that the work is coming from rather than my back

has been helpful as has breathing as deep as possible

and keeping ye ol bandhas activated<br><br>I noticed

backbends got a bit easier a good six months after

discontinuing weight training - dont think that applies to you,

but for others out there, you might find a

difference.<br><br>I also want to add that they are still difficult

for me, but I dont dread them anymore, something i

think thats evolved from facing them day after day

after day versus a few times a week when i first

started. Theres also something very life affirming of

working on a pose that i probably haven't done since i

was a five year old.<br><br>yours in yoga<br><br>s

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the backbending ideas. I am almost

over dreading them. My real aversion right now is

getting help; I don't want any assistance, I want to work

it out by myself for awhile, but inevitably some

well meaning teacher comes over to straighten my arms

or help open my chest and things just get way too

intense. One thing that has made backbends easier for me

is just looking at the wall ahead of me, rather than

trying to look at the floor. For some reason that helps

me open up a little more.

[Guest guest]

A little technique that I have found helpful is

to tip my head forward and actually look up when I'm

going up. For some reason this seems to help open my

shoulders so I can get my arms much straighter. (Can't

remember where I learned this). Then I look down at the

floor once I'm as far up as I can get.<br><br>I agree

with you about being lifted into backbends by

well-meaning teachers. What tended to happen to me is that

either my hands would get lifted completely off the

floor, or I would be pulled further into the backbend

than my upper back was ready for, and my lower back

would get too compressed and be uncomfortable

afterwards. I should point out that when I started astanga my

upper back and shoulders were very tight from years of

climbing.