Guest guest Posted June 19, 2001 Report Share Posted June 19, 2001 Once more my question. Somebody had posted here to held every posture longer than 45 seconds. Now, armed with a nice clock, I counted the seconds in the video, where P.J. is guiding Richard Freeman and the other 5 boysn'girls. In every posture P.J. gives them only 30 seconds! Only 30. - Therefore it makes surely a great difference in practice I wonder how long to stay in every posture? What do you think, what do you do? Lu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2001 Report Share Posted June 19, 2001 Please, answer quickly. I'm in Trikonasana now for 2 days, 6 hours, 23 minutes and 30 seconds... Lu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2001 Report Share Posted June 19, 2001 Lu, <br><br>we count the breaths. Usually, we hold an Asana for five breaths (in and out). Some Asanas are supposed to be held for ten breaths. Some for twenty-five. One for one-hundred (sic!). As far as I remember, the number of breaths for each Asana is indicated in the books by, e.g. Lino Miele, John Scott and David Swenson. <br><br>(Don´t be surprised if they contradict one another in some details)<br><br>Gruesse<br>Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2001 Report Share Posted June 19, 2001 Utthita Trikonasana or Parivritta? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 Thomas, 5 breaths are okay (and in some other postures some more). Anyhow there is the thing with the time-time-time. If (like somebody posted) you have to held the posture for at least 45 seconds, I suppose we have to breath slowly. Of course, I know that the "right" breathing is not too slow and not too quick. The velocity of the breathing seems to be important. But this depend again how intensive the practice is. - May be we are talking about nothing. 5 breaths, everyone in his own rhythm, that's it. But then somebody says 45 seconds to held while P.J. counts only for 30 seconds. A little bit confusing. I'm sure that there is a great difference if you held a posture for 30, or for 45 seconds. But, the result has probably to be: 5 breathing, not too quick and not too slow, in an own steady rhythm with no obstruction in the breathing. If then there are 30 or 45 seconds - who cares? Right?<br>- Thanks, after 3 days, 6 hours and 25 minutes I leave now parivritta trikonasana... (uuhh!) Lu (going to breakfast)(and marry next month)("uuuh" once more) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 "Right?"<br><br>Right. Now go for the Parsvakonasana. <br><br>Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 HI Lu<br><br>But who the heck tells you to hold a posture "for at least 45 seconds"? 20 to 30 seconds should be enough, I say. Never practised with a stopwatch myself - does anyone here? - but I guess this is also about the time it takes to breathe 5 times in & out in ujjayi. But I agree: "5 breaths, everyone in his own rhythm, that's it." If it takes you 45 seconds instead of 30 to take those 5 ujjayis, so what? I would also like to add that the longer you practise astanga yoga, the deeper your breath will become - maybe due to the stretching effect on the lungs - and the more time you will need to take the prescribed amount of breaths. (Fröhliche Hochzeit!)<br><br>Oh, and I apologise in advance to Khushtanga, Sunfunmoonjune, Yomamasana2001 and Boredcthis for having so inconsiderately interrupted their most interesting conversation on Astanga Yoga. Please go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 <<But who the heck tells you to hold a posture "for at least 45 seconds"? 20 to 30 seconds should be enough, I say. >><br><br>Why should 20 to 30 seconds be 'enough'? In many other yoga-styles the postures are held much longer to facilitate opening of the muscles. Sometimes when I've had a break in my practise I take 8 breaths in some asanas, which makes a *big* difference on how far I can stretch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 HI<br><br>I myself never take more than the *officially* prescribed amount of breaths, which in most cases means 5 ujjayis. But if you like to take more, you are free to do so, of course.<br><br>However, I think the original question - I admit to not having followed that thread too closely - was not "how many breaths are you supposed to take in a posture?", but "how long does it take to do the 5 ujjayis?". "At least 45 seconds", as someone here seems to have suggested, is some seconds too much, I say. No mistake, you are free to stretch as long as you like in the poses (I myself practise at a veeerry slow pace), but then, doing the series this way risks becoming a never-ending story, don't you think? (Not all people here have 2-3 hours available for their daily practice.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 In Yoga Mala, doesn't it say 5 - 8 breaths for many of the postures? I don't have it in front of me, so I may be mistaken, but I'm thinking that's what it says. So there is some latitude. No need to get out stop watches, LOL! <br><br>I've heard that on Sarah Powers' Ashtanga video, she advises to "aim for" 5 seconds on each inhale and each exhale. If you're following that advice, and using 5 breaths, 45 - 50 seconds is about what you'll end up spending on an asana. Depending on how close your aim is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 >From "The Science of Flexibility", Yoga Journal, April 2000:<br><br>"Julie Gudmestad, a physical therapist and certified Iyengar instructor, uses prolonged asanas with patients at her clinic in Portland, Oregon. "If they hold the poses for shorter periods, people get a nice sense of release," Gudmestad explains, "but they aren't necessarily going to get the structural changes that add up to a permanent increase in flexibility." According to Gudmestad, stretches should be held 90 to 120 seconds to change the "ground substance" of connective tissue. Ground substance is the nonfibrous, gel-like binding agent in which fibrous connective tissues like collagen and elastin are embedded. Ground substance stabilizes and lubricates connective tissue. And it is commonly believed that restrictions in this substance can limit flexibility, especially as we age." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2001 Report Share Posted June 21, 2001 Hey Screwgee - Thanks a lot for your informations. I never thought that you are "criminal" of any sort, and if you felt insulted by my posting, I apologise for that. Of course, everything I put down here is my personal opinion only, and I am thankful if someone cares to correct me if I am wrong.<br><br>Thanks also to Swan1us: a reminder that I should get the "Yoga Mala" once and for all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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