Guest guest Posted December 6, 2000 Report Share Posted December 6, 2000 how did you all learn to do this? or should i say get strong enough for it? i'm at the point where my shoulders are almost behind my knees...and my hands can almost come down flat...but my body wants to start trying by resting all the weight on my fingers and thumbs, rather than waiting for my hands to come all the way flat. this is bad to do, isn't it? i'm getting frustrated...my body naturally wants to do it...but my retarded hands are holding me back...<br><br>lauren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2000 Report Share Posted December 6, 2000 Oh, please, don't get frustrated and impatient. I am approaching two years of practicing and I am just getting to the point where I can cross and lift my feet in this pose! And I am very happy with my progression! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2000 Report Share Posted December 7, 2000 I don't understand how your hands aren't flat - you should be jumping the legs forward from down dog leaving the hands where they are - i.e. already flat on the ground.<br><br>On the other hand, if your shoulders are well behind your knees that's a really good start. When I started learning I was strong but not so flexible, so my personal path to bhujapidasana (and kurmasana) was - start with legs wrapped around upper arms somewhere a little above the elbows. Use strength to lift up, and to squeeze the legs around the arms to stop them sliding down. Get elbow injury. Stop. Learn again properly with the legs higher up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2000 Report Share Posted December 7, 2000 I got the strength for it by lifting weights, I still try to squeeze one high intensity weight training day to each week. I feel that weights have helped me in my ashtanga practise, I'm sure that I couldn't do jump-backs (or other lifts) without the weight training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2000 Report Share Posted December 7, 2000 as an prep adjustment, I find it helpful to first stand on my hands, then move the crown of my head towards the ground -- this gets my bhujas well behind my knees...then, establish balance on my hands, and sit back...off come the feet from the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2000 Report Share Posted December 7, 2000 I have always maintained that some strength training such as the judicious use of weights can help one's Ashtanga practice. Of course, weight training to the point of beefcake can very much limit flexibility, but there are many exercises (especially upper body work and endurance rather than bulking or power routines) which will help to make "all is coming." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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