How about changing sequence of asana

[Guest guest]

in regards to urdhva dhanurasana, are they part

of the first series? they were included in guruji's

workshop. one criminal source book for a different kind of

yoga (power yoga) states that they are often included

but are not really part of the first series. perhaps

one of those postures that didn't used to be part of

the series but now is. <br> <br>in terms of variation

from the series, personally, i am at the point where

the regimen provides comfort. i find it disquieting

to go to classes where people start to wander or

vary. i do find workshops helpful in increasing

flexibility in one area or another but i like the routine.

<br> <br>in iyengar's book, light on yoga, he

recommends that the head stand and shoulder stand should be

done early in one's practice. he feels they are some

of the most important postures. he states that by

doing them early in the practice, the practitioner is

not too fatigued and will be able to do them with

good form and for adequate duration to get the needed

benefit<br><br>you of course realize that, by merely posing these

kinds of questions, you are now a yoga criminal of high

order and have likely made the proverbial "list".

congratulations on joining our ever expanding club.

[Guest guest]

In his manual David Swenson lists urdhva

dhanurasana with the closing sequence. So it's not

technically a 1st or 2nd series pose, according to his

book.<br><br>An Iyengar teacher once told me that practicing

backbends and forward bends in the same session is too much

for the spine. If this was true, it seems like anyone

would be wrecked after doing 2nd series, which has

intense forw. and back bends. The secret must lie in the

sequence...

[Guest guest]

The sequence of asana in Ashtanga has been

described as being similar to the sequence of numbers you

use to unlock a tumblar lock. Doing them one after

the other in the correct order will unlock the body.

I have personally experienced this as being true

for me. Once I severly sprained muscles in my back

(not doing yoga) which put a definite cramp on my

practice. But I just worked with the Ashtanga series, doing

each asana one after the other the best that I could,

and I could feel everyday my back getting better and

better. So, check it out in your own experience.

[Guest guest]

if you change the sequence then you are not really doing ashtanga

[Guest guest]

Back in my old Iyengar days, before I discovered

Ashtanga, they used to teach us that the "adequate duration

for headstand" was 15 minutes ormore, and we always

held it for at least 5mins in every class.