Guest guest Posted June 8, 2002 Report Share Posted June 8, 2002 I agree with Scott.... ie., as you lift the leg upwards, being aware of the oppositional force (pulling down on the hamstrings/sit bones, keeping the pelvis aligned) helps a lot. Also, for me, Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana is a very psychological pose... ie., sometimes I catch myself anticipating it/worrying about it/fearing it, before I'm even at the pose in my practice.... it's one of those things that shows me how yoga mimicks life... and if I'm able to observe how I'm fearing this pose and to have compassion for myself, relax, and breathe, and just be there for myself, I do OK. Sometimes I even ask myself, "What are you afraid of? Tipping over? What's wrong with that? So you tip over... move on and try again." I balance well when I just breathe, observe, relax, let go of judgements (or observe/feel them and let them go)... being in the moment, which, for me, is a big part of practice. Aligning the shoulders, rooting in to the ground, letting myself sway if my body happens to, anchoring my pelvis, and not putting in too much effort are all things I consider at various times in this pose. Anyway, know you're not alone in the struggle of balancing. I remember someone asking David Swenson about this (at a recent teaacher training), and both he and his wife admitted to jumping around on one foot, struggling with this pose... but his [paraphrased] "answer" to balancing was 'just do the pose where you are, and just practice, practice, practice... and be open and compassionate with yourself/your body... so you tip over, so what? Come back to your breath and the pose and keep going." Easier said than done? Perhaps, but it works. Namaste, heathermarie > Sat, 8 Jun 2002 16:45:28 +0100 > "Scott Rennie" <scott.rennie > RE: question... > > I focus on a spot on the wall in front of me when the leg is in front, and > to the side when the leg is to the side. > > I found my balance improved when a good teacher explained the posture to me > fully. This isn't a posture where you lift the leg using the quads/hips, as > you would think. What you need to do is pull the leg downwards using the > hamstrings and oppose this pull by pulling it upwards with the arms > (although it is really coming from the shoulder as it rolls back). Difficult > to explain, but I hope you'll get what I mean. > > This creates a sort of triangle between your torso, arm and leg -- if your > balance starts to go, bend your extended knee slightly rather than bending > the leg you are standing on or wobbling from side to side. This sort of > feels like a bow to me, with your extended leg being the bow itself and the > arm being the bowstring which is always taught. Hope that doesn't sound too > weird ;-) > > In standing half-bound lotus I look ahead also, but my hips are too tight > and put a lot of pressure on my knees so I don't bind yet. I think if you > reach the bind & bend stage you should focus on a point on the floor. > > Let us know if any of the advice works for you. > > Cheers, > > Scott > > > n. depas [depasn] > 07 June 2002 02:48 > ashtanga yoga > ashtanga yoga question... > > > I need help and I will take any advice that anyone can lend. I have an > extremely difficult time balancing, especially in extended hand to big toe > posture. Previously my yoga instructors said to focus on a drishti that was > stable and not moving, that worked and as long as I didn't take my eyes off > of the object, I could balance. This doesn't seem to be working with this > posture, not to mention standing bound half lotus. What am I doing > wrong...or not doing at all. Anyone with suggestions, please let me know. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2002 Report Share Posted June 10, 2002 Thank you both for these words. I too, always dread this pose because it reminds me of where I "am not" in my practice and how far I still need to go. I guess I need to remind myself that it is the journey along the way, not the destination that counts. Once again, I have learned a lesson on "letting go." Thank you. > > ImpliedPresence [sMTP:hmmmmmmm] > Saturday, June 08, 2002 1:19 PM > ashtanga yoga > Re: ashtanga yoga Digest Number 83 > > I agree with Scott.... ie., as you lift the leg upwards, being aware of > the > oppositional force (pulling down on the hamstrings/sit bones, keeping the > pelvis aligned) helps a lot. > > Also, for me, Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana is a very psychological > pose... > ie., sometimes I catch myself anticipating it/worrying about it/fearing > it, > before I'm even at the pose in my practice.... it's one of those things > that > shows me how yoga mimicks life... and if I'm able to observe how I'm > fearing > this pose and to have compassion for myself, relax, and breathe, and just > be > there for myself, I do OK. Sometimes I even ask myself, "What are you > afraid of? Tipping over? What's wrong with that? So you tip over... > move > on and try again." > I balance well when I just breathe, observe, relax, let go of judgements > (or > observe/feel them and let them go)... being in the moment, which, for me, > is > a big part of practice. > > Aligning the shoulders, rooting in to the ground, letting myself sway if > my > body happens to, anchoring my pelvis, and not putting in too much effort > are > all things I consider at various times in this pose. > > Anyway, know you're not alone in the struggle of balancing. I remember > someone asking David Swenson about this (at a recent teaacher training), > and > both he and his wife admitted to jumping around on one foot, struggling > with > this pose... but his [paraphrased] "answer" to balancing was 'just do the > pose where you are, and just practice, practice, practice... and be open > and > compassionate with yourself/your body... so you tip over, so what? Come > back to your breath and the pose and keep going." > > Easier said than done? Perhaps, but it works. > > Namaste, > heathermarie > > > > Sat, 8 Jun 2002 16:45:28 +0100 > > "Scott Rennie" <scott.rennie > > RE: question... > > > > I focus on a spot on the wall in front of me when the leg is in front, > and > > to the side when the leg is to the side. > > > > I found my balance improved when a good teacher explained the posture to > me > > fully. This isn't a posture where you lift the leg using the quads/hips, > as > > you would think. What you need to do is pull the leg downwards using the > > hamstrings and oppose this pull by pulling it upwards with the arms > > (although it is really coming from the shoulder as it rolls back). > Difficult > > to explain, but I hope you'll get what I mean. > > > > This creates a sort of triangle between your torso, arm and leg -- if > your > > balance starts to go, bend your extended knee slightly rather than > bending > > the leg you are standing on or wobbling from side to side. This sort of > > feels like a bow to me, with your extended leg being the bow itself and > the > > arm being the bowstring which is always taught. Hope that doesn't sound > too > > weird ;-) > > > > In standing half-bound lotus I look ahead also, but my hips are too > tight > > and put a lot of pressure on my knees so I don't bind yet. I think if > you > > reach the bind & bend stage you should focus on a point on the floor. > > > > Let us know if any of the advice works for you. > > > > Cheers, > > > > Scott > > > > > > n. depas [depasn] > > 07 June 2002 02:48 > > ashtanga yoga > > ashtanga yoga question... > > > > > > I need help and I will take any advice that anyone can lend. I have an > > extremely difficult time balancing, especially in extended hand to big > toe > > posture. Previously my yoga instructors said to focus on a drishti that > was > > stable and not moving, that worked and as long as I didn't take my eyes > off > > of the object, I could balance. This doesn't seem to be working with > this > > posture, not to mention standing bound half lotus. What am I doing > > wrong...or not doing at all. Anyone with suggestions, please let me > know. > > > > > > ashtanga yoga > > > > Terms of Service > <>. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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