Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 Annie, Do push-ups. If you find it hard, do it with your knees on the floor. But do remember to do push-ups the way you do chaturanga. You do not need weights. Make it a point to do as mucch as you can on one day then add a couple more the next. ashtangayoga, "anniegurton" <annie> wrote: > Okay, so I just posted a message saying that by persevering with > your practice, pains and problems are eventually overcome, but no > amount of practice seems to build strength in my shoulders. > I *am* 53 and took up Ashtanga at 50, BUT, I do regular practice and > still can't jump forward to bring my feet squarely between my hands, > or jumpback from sitting. I do a bastardised version of both. > I also can't do backbends (lifting up from lying down) because of > lack of shoulder strength. > > I do believe that the practice is designed to build strength and no > other body building should be necessary. > Does my original maxim about perseverence still apply? Will I > eventually build shoulder strength? And if so, when ? Or in this > case, should I start weight training to supplement? > Advice would be welcomed, > Best regards, Annie > www.yogagoa.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 Annie, trust in the practice. Of course keep at it, and of course you will see increases in strength and lightness. Be careful when you encounter pain, however; always vigilant to distinguish between "opening"/bearable and "youchie!"/hurt kind of pain...! Attention to alignment helps; try to imagine a square forming between the hands, elbows, shoulders and floor when in chatvari. Work the bandhas (for lightness and less likelihood of injury) and, as importantly, keep the legs strong, the feet flexed, heels pushing out, hamstrings engaged.... No weight training necessary- bearing your own weight in practice is ample. Don't fall into thinking that other venues could help cheat your way to "advancement"; they don't... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 Hi ann- I was wondering if you get enought protein in your diet? This could hender the muscles from even being able to form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 Do push-ups. But going down chin, chest and knees only much like in surya namaskar (inhale deeply through nose), exhale through mouth as you push your body up. Do it gradually. Start with twelve, then twenty-four, until you are able to do thirty through time. If you find it difficult then start with women's push-up when the starting position is with your knees, shins and insteps on the floor. Weight training tends to create more injuriy for someone whose main practice loosens the joints. Cheers! ashtangayoga, "anniegurton" <annie> wrote: > Okay, so I just posted a message saying that by persevering with > your practice, pains and problems are eventually overcome, but no > amount of practice seems to build strength in my shoulders. > I *am* 53 and took up Ashtanga at 50, BUT, I do regular practice and > still can't jump forward to bring my feet squarely between my hands, > or jumpback from sitting. I do a bastardised version of both. > I also can't do backbends (lifting up from lying down) because of > lack of shoulder strength. > > I do believe that the practice is designed to build strength and no > other body building should be necessary. > Does my original maxim about perseverence still apply? Will I > eventually build shoulder strength? And if so, when ? Or in this > case, should I start weight training to supplement? > Advice would be welcomed, > Best regards, Annie > www.yogagoa.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 ashtangayoga, "anniegurton" <annie> wrote: > Okay, so I just posted a message saying that by persevering with > your practice, pains and problems are eventually overcome, but no > amount of practice seems to build strength in my shoulders. > I *am* 53 and took up Ashtanga at 50, BUT, I do regular practice and > still can't jump forward to bring my feet squarely between my hands, > or jumpback from sitting. I do a bastardised version of both. > I also can't do backbends (lifting up from lying down) because of > lack of shoulder strength. > > I do believe that the practice is designed to build strength and no > other body building should be necessary. > Does my original maxim about perseverence still apply? Will I > eventually build shoulder strength? And if so, when ? Or in this > case, should I start weight training to supplement? > Advice would be welcomed, > Best regards, Annie > www.yogagoa.net its true that practise is designed to build strength and no other body building should be neccessary, but in the beginning when you have no upper body strength weights kind of give you a kick start allowing you to lift yourself into back bends and so forth...thats when you begin to build the strength and as you carry on practising you will find you no longer need the weight training. most people have some upper body strength to start off with espicially if you have a physical job or are used to other forms of physical exercise, but some of us never really use the muscles we are supposed to in everyday life due to our increasingly sedentary lifestyle, believe me weights will help, you im not talking body builder level, just some light shoulder/chest press and lat pulldown using 12-15 reps, this will tone and strengthen your muscles not build them up too big. then once you get a little stronger you can ditch them altogether as ashtanga is great weight bearing exercise. you could carry on as you are without the weights but may find it becomes frustrating and also painful, this in turn will make you dread your practise rather than look forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 ashtangayoga, "tinazym" <tinazym@h...> wrote: > Annie, trust in the practice. Of course keep at it, and of course > you will see increases in strength and lightness. Be careful > when you encounter pain, however; always vigilant to distinguish > between "opening"/bearable and "youchie!"/hurt kind of pain...! > > Attention to alignment helps; try to imagine a square forming > between the hands, elbows, shoulders and floor when in > chatvari. Work the bandhas (for lightness and less likelihood of > injury) and, as importantly, keep the legs strong, the feet flexed, > heels pushing out, hamstrings engaged.... > > No weight training necessary- bearing your own weight in > practice is ample. Don't fall into thinking that other venues could > help cheat your way to "advancement"; they don't... i agree but weights isnt all bad, like i said some of us dont even have normal shoulder strength to begin with, so light weights if done with the instruction of a qualified teacher can help tremendously to strengthen the muscles around the joints and so prevent pain and injury. i dont look at it as cheating rather supporting weak muscles in the beginning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 Just keep doing practice. I just turned 50. It took me a long time to lift up & jump back but I kept trying. It took 5 years & I thought I might never get it. Then one day it just happened. It may have taken a long time compared to other people - but this is MY practice & your practice is uniquely YOUR practice. That's all that counts. ashtangayoga, "anniegurton" <annie> wrote: > Okay, so I just posted a message saying that by persevering with > your practice, pains and problems are eventually overcome, but no > amount of practice seems to build strength in my shoulders. > I *am* 53 and took up Ashtanga at 50, BUT, I do regular practice and > still can't jump forward to bring my feet squarely between my hands, > or jumpback from sitting. I do a bastardised version of both. > I also can't do backbends (lifting up from lying down) because of > lack of shoulder strength. > > I do believe that the practice is designed to build strength and no > other body building should be necessary. > Does my original maxim about perseverence still apply? Will I > eventually build shoulder strength? And if so, when ? Or in this > case, should I start weight training to supplement? > Advice would be welcomed, > Best regards, Annie > www.yogagoa.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2002 Report Share Posted September 5, 2002 re jumping back while sitting: that takes A LOT of core strength coming from the psoas. i can't do this either. but i am working on strengthening this area. take 2 blocks or even phonebooks and place by your hands. sit crosslegged and place your hands on the blocks and simply lift your butt off the floor. you'll definitely feel that psoas becoming engaged. if you can, lift your feet and butt off the floor. and if you can go further lift your feet and butt and swing it all back into chaturanga. using the blocks has definitely helped me get in touch w/ my psoas and core. i find this a great tool. hope it helps. ashtangayoga, "anniegurton" <annie> wrote: > Okay, so I just posted a message saying that by persevering with > your practice, pains and problems are eventually overcome, but no > amount of practice seems to build strength in my shoulders. > I *am* 53 and took up Ashtanga at 50, BUT, I do regular practice and > still can't jump forward to bring my feet squarely between my hands, > or jumpback from sitting. I do a bastardised version of both. > I also can't do backbends (lifting up from lying down) because of > lack of shoulder strength. > > I do believe that the practice is designed to build strength and no > other body building should be necessary. > Does my original maxim about perseverence still apply? Will I > eventually build shoulder strength? And if so, when ? Or in this > case, should I start weight training to supplement? > Advice would be welcomed, > Best regards, Annie > www.yogagoa.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2002 Report Share Posted September 6, 2002 WOW ! I just did a practice and tried some push-ups. Yes, they are definitely the thing for shoulders, but WOW ... I could only do two at a time! I couldn't believe it! So much for starting with 12! I ended up incorporating a pushup into every chaturanga, and even that I found *REALLY* hard. So, Yes you are right, that's obviously the action I need to do. The good thing about only being able to do two at a time is that I should improve fairly fast - it will be interesting to see how many I can do in six weeks / six months time. Many thanks for the advice. Namaste. ashtangayoga, drdaryl <no_reply> wrote: > Do push-ups. But going down chin, chest and knees only much like in > surya namaskar (inhale deeply through nose), exhale through mouth as > you push your body up. Do it gradually. Start with twelve, then > twenty-four, until you are able to do thirty through time. If you find > it difficult then start with women's push-up when the starting > position is with your knees, shins and insteps on the floor. Weight > training tends to create more injuriy for someone whose main practice > loosens the joints. > > Cheers! > > ashtangayoga, "anniegurton" <annie> wrote: > > Okay, so I just posted a message saying that by persevering with > > your practice, pains and problems are eventually overcome, but no > > amount of practice seems to build strength in my shoulders. > > I *am* 53 and took up Ashtanga at 50, BUT, I do regular practice and > > still can't jump forward to bring my feet squarely between my hands, > > or jumpback from sitting. I do a bastardised version of both. > > I also can't do backbends (lifting up from lying down) because of > > lack of shoulder strength. > > > > I do believe that the practice is designed to build strength and no > > other body building should be necessary. > > Does my original maxim about perseverence still apply? Will I > > eventually build shoulder strength? And if so, when ? Or in this > > case, should I start weight training to supplement? > > Advice would be welcomed, > > Best regards, Annie > > www.yogagoa.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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