Aches and Pains

[Guest guest]

I have been practicing first series Ashtanga for

about four months and before then had done a more

irregular Hatha practice for about a year and a half. I

have noticed a pain in my knee that seems to go away

if I don't practice for a week, pain in my hand

where my thumb meets the hand during practice the more

vinyasas I do, that is very uncomfortable by the time I

get to the finishing poses. I am trying to discern

whether these pains are because I am doing something

wrong, or something I just wasn't aware enough to pay

attention to or something I am paying too much attention

to. I am rarely ill and had no previous physical

problems to my knowledge. Suddenly I am having these

little pains and have injured myself jumping about a

month ago. <br>On a different note, in supta kurmasana

I can't quite achieve the complete pose. The more I

squeeze my legs into my arms the more pain I have in the

area near my collar bones. I can cross my ankles but

can't quite clasp my hands. Do I try to keep pressing

through that pain? Does anyone have any

experience/suggestions? Thanks, K.

[Guest guest]

I think the pain in your knee and the pain near

your collar bones (in supta kurmasana)are related:

just work on slowly opening your hips and work legs

strength in standing poses. And don't "press through that

pain"!!. <br> For your thumb check your shoulders and the

distribution of the weight on your hands. Don't try to get rid

of the pain, respect it!. <br> But not matter what

you feel, keep following your breathing and be

patience. Good luck!

[Guest guest]

I had similar problems with my collarbones in

trying to get into Supta Kurmasana. You have to get your

legs behind/over your shoulders so that there is room

for your collarbones, teacher can help you at this.