Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

Up dogs and the gluteus muscles

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Just thought I'd share what David Swenson taught us about this... He said

not to purposefully squeeze the buttocks muscles b/c doing so turns the feet

out (messing up alignment), and in Up Dog, you need to try to keep the feet

and legs and hips lined up.

 

That said, I agree with Victoria, that some people with weak or

somehow-compromised lower backs can gently "engage" the buttocks muscles in

order to support the lower spine... though I think that there's a big

difference between "engaging" the buttocks and really squeezing or

contracting them.

As the lower back gets stronger and if one's practice is regular, I think

that the muscles that are best used in Up Dog will be engaged

"automatically" (for lack of a better word).

 

>Message: 7

Tue, 2 Jul 2002 15:27:14 -0700 (PDT)

Victoria Mellon <sharky07042

RE: upwards dog & buns

 

Well, since you asked.... My thoughts on this are

twofold. It makes sense to me that relaxing the glutes

would allow you to curve the spine more. In my case,

however, because my lower spine is so compromised,

contracting the glutes helps to stabilize the lower

spine, thus protecting it from possible injury. So, I

think that if your spine is healthy and strong, relax

the glutes during Urdhva Mukha Svanasana and see how

it feels. For those of us who are practicing with a

compromised spine, I would suggest engaging the glutes

and the legs to help support the spine until it is

strong enough to go further in backbends.

Kathleen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...