Guest guest Posted January 6, 2003 Report Share Posted January 6, 2003 Yes Margee, I try to seat as much as possible with legs crossed so my hips keep opening, although it´s hard to do so , for example while I´m sitting at my computer desk. I might just get myself one of those soft seats that don´t have arm or back rests (sorry I don´t know what they´re called!) so I can sit with legs crossed more often. I guess that would be a good idea. Thanx! ashtanga yoga, "Gearhart, Margee" <mgearhart@s...> wrote: > Miguel- > I was not inferring that you use the pillow during your Ashtanga practice, > but rather at another time, say if you were watching tv and you want to open > your hip area and work on the knees. That is when placing a pillow under > the butt, while watching tv, will help you prepare for when you do Ashtanga. > Margee > > > > > n3wskin <miguel_tereno@n...> [sMTP:miguel_tereno@n...] > > Saturday, January 04, 2003 1:35 AM > > ashtanga yoga > > ashtanga yoga Re: Beginner and Padmasana... > > > > In a way, I believe FBL is saying something correct, and that if you > > practise other poses you will *eventually* get into padmasana > > without effort (since I´ma beginner) and what she said really > > opened my eyes so I could see that I really need to practise the > > first series, and when I want to meditate or do some bandhas, I > > simply cross my legs (what I´ve already been doing). On the other > > hand, sure, why not just try and make ashtanga as smooth and easy > > as possible (given that we´re talking about a beginner), by using > > props? > > > > Thank you all for sharing your experiences, and peace!) > > > > Miguel > > > > > > ashtanga yoga, "Gearhart, Margee" > > <mgearhart@s...> wrote: > > > FBL- > > > I must inform you that Sharath was the one who told me about using > > the > > > pillow at night to help condition my body. > > > I am assuming since he learned from PJ himself, and trains with > > him daily > > > that he is a bit more experienced with this advice then you. I > > never said > > > that this was "part of Ashtanga," I said it was a good way to > > prepare. > > > And, by the way, it helped me tremendously, as well as others. > > > I assumed the object of this board was for information and for > > > encouragement. I don't see much encouragement from you, just alot > > of > > > criticism. If you have children, i do hope you praise as much as > > you > > > criticize. > > > Have a nice day. > > > Margee > > > > > > > > > > > funkybadlady [sMTP:no_reply] > > > > Friday, January 03, 2003 1:42 AM > > > > ashtanga yoga > > > > ashtanga yoga Re: Beginner and Padmasana... > > > > > > > > Miguel, > > > > > > > > This USED to be an Ashtanga Yoga message board, but now it > > > > seems that there is very little Ashtanga going on and a lot of > > bad > > > > advice. There is no pose in Ashtanga that involves sitting on a > > > > pillow, and there is no need to do an added "counter pose" as > > > > the resident quack yogini shakti has advised you to do. The > > > > system of the primary series is a very good one and all you need > > > > to do is follow the program as it is laid out. There are no > > pillows > > > > used in Ashtanga. Just go as slow as you need to go to avoid > > > > too much wear and tear on your knees as your hips will slowly > > > > open up enough so your knees will not hurt in padmasana any > > > > more. > > > > > > > > In the mean time sit with your legs crossed instead of > > > > padmasana and practice the primary series. Eventually your > > > > hips will open and your knees won't hurt any more. Forget about > > > > the "pillow conditioning" and the crazy out of sequence pose > > > > Quacky Shakti told you to do. Not necessary and heedless. > > > > > > > > If you don't do the correct method of Ashtanga, don't give > > advice > > > > here without prefacing it with a disclaimer. > > > > > > > > FBL > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ashtanga yoga, "Gearhart, Margee" < > > > > mgearhart@s...> wrote: > > > > > Miguel- > > > > > This is a very good pose for conditioning. It is > > uncomfortable > > > > at first. > > > > > Put a small pillow under your butt for leverage and try to sit > > like > > > > that for > > > > > a few minutes adding a few more minutes every few days. > > > > After awhile you > > > > > will be able to sit like that for awhile without any > > discomfort. > > > > Like most > > > > > things, it just takes time. > > > > > Margee > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > n3wskin <miguel_tereno@n...> > > > > [sMTP:miguel_tereno@n...] > > > > > > Thursday, January 02, 2003 12:02 PM > > > > > > ashtanga yoga > > > > > > ashtanga yoga Re: Beginner and Padmasana... > > > > > > > > > > > > Shakti, > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you for the reply. Isn´t this the pose you are talking > > > > about? > > > > > > > > > > > > << <http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/490_1.cfm>>> > > > > > > > > > > > > I tried this one and it also hurts my knees, when I sit down. > > > > > > > > > > > > Miguel > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ashtanga yoga, "Shakti Lalita > > > > > > <Yogini_Shakti>" <Yogini_Shakti> wrote: > > > > > > > Miguel wrote [[.. padmasana, it hurts on the knees. [snip] > > Is > > > > > > there > > > > > > > an easier alternate position?]] > > > > > > > ** All joints - from small digits to huge balls - are > > points of > > > > > > > injury. Proceed cautiously. Otherwise, an all too often, > > or > > > > > > unknown > > > > > > > counterpose to Padmasan is 'sitting warrior'. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > When the knees & hips are turned inwards in padmasan, > > > > the > > > > > > alternate, > > > > > > > opposing movement must be addressed for affirmative > > > > healing & > > > > > > > recuperation. This countermove is 'sitting warrior; which > > > > rotates > > > > > > > the knee & hips in the opposite direction. Hence, Pose .. > > > > > > > Counterpose. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sitting warrior is sitting with the legs to the sides of > > the > > > > > > thighs, > > > > > > > toes pointed backwards, tailbone on the earth. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Om Shanti ... > > > > > > > Shakti > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sponsor > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > << <http://rd./M=234081.2814790.4175286.1925585/>> > > > > D=egroupweb/S=170506 > > > > > > 0955:HM/A=1327985/R=0/*< <http://ad.doubleclick.net/>> > > > > clk;4870024;7586687;x?htt > > > > > > p://www.ameriquestmortgage.com/welcome.html?ad= > > > > 01> > > > > > > > > > > > > << <http://us.adserver./l?M=>> > > > > 234081.2814790.4175286.1925585/D=egroupm > > > > > > ail/S=:HM/A=1327985/rand=367158758> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ashtanga yoga > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Terms of > > > > Service > > > > > > << <>>>. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sponsor > > > > > > > > > > > > > > < <http://rd./M=234081.2814790.4175286.1925585/D=egroupweb/S=1 > > > 70506 > > > > > > 0955:HM/A=1327986/R=0/* <http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;4870027;7586687;> > > a?htt > > > > p://www.ameriquestmortgage.com/welcome.html?ad=01> > > > > > > > > < <http://us.adserver./l?> > > M=234081.2814790.4175286.1925585/D=egroupm > > > > ail/S=:HM/A=1327986/rand=345683372> > > > > > > > > > > > > ashtanga yoga > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Terms of > > Service > > > > < <>>. > > > > > > > > > > Sponsor > > > > > > <http://rd./M=234081.2821106.4184440.1925585/D=egroupweb/S=1 70506 > > 0955:HM/A=1328027/R=0/*http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;4870030;7586687; u?htt > > p://www.ameriquestmortgage.com/welcome.html?ad=01> > > > > <http://us.adserver./l? 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Guest guest Posted January 6, 2003 Report Share Posted January 6, 2003 Hello Margee, I guess that was a funny way to phrase it. I mean about the teacher being a prop. But that is what I look to gain from props, when I use them, which is less and less often now, a sense of how the asana feels with correct alignment, or at least, improved alignment. The only prop I use regularly now is the wall in Sirsasana and I look forward to getting away from that in the near future. Love and Blessing, Ed --- "Gearhart, Margee" <mgearhart wrote: > No, I do not feel that the teacher is a "prop." > They are someone who when adjusting you, helps your > body to feel the proper alignment of the asana. > With the slight adjustments, or even at times the > more difficult adjustments, they can help you push > yourself just a bit more to your edge and when that > is taking place your body will have the opportunity > to imprint the feel of the asana. Your body will > know the next time you do that particular asana how > it should feel and you can adjust yourself then. I > hope I am making myself clear on that. > Again, as others have stated, just do the practice > daily, without props, and to the best of your > ability. That is all it is about. You will improve > and it will get easier. > Good luck > Margee > > > > > edvannoy <edvannoy > [sMTP:edvannoy] > > Saturday, January 04, 2003 4:44 AM > > ashtanga yoga > > ashtanga yoga Re: Beginner and > Padmasana... > > > > Hello Everyone, > > I sent this to Miguel earlier. I had meant to > post it to the > > group. As you will see, I am new to Ashtanga. > You will also see > > that I am not an Ashtanga Purist. As to props, > when they are > > helpful and help avoid injury they are good > things. The full pose > > is always the most comfortable way of being in an > Asana, but getting > > half way into a pose can be uncomfortable. If a > prop helps you hold > > a pose comfortably, with better alignment than you > could achieve > > otherwise, use it. As soon as it become > unnecessary it should be > > dropped. Remember that there are approximations > of the Asanas that > > require no props, so if you can do one of these > you don't need a > > prop, indeed the prop is then in the way. Props > also interfere with > > the smooth flow of Vinyasa and Vinyasa is key to > Ashtanga. > > One final comment, I understand that in the > Mysore classes the > > teacher does a lot of hands on adjustments. > People talk about being > > put into, and taken out, of the Asanas. Isn't that > using the teacher > > as a kind of prop? > > Love and Blessing, Ed > > > > Here is the letter I mentioned above. > > > > Hi Miguel, > > I read Shakti Lalita's answer to your question. > I > > would add that if this pose is too hard on your > knees > > you can put a small cushion or yoga block under > your > > sit bones to take some of the strain off your > knees. > > > > As to books. Yes, I know the Larry Shultz > manual at > > itsyoga.com. I have it tacked up along the wall > near > > the ceiling in my Yoga room. I don't think it is > > enough for someone new to Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga in > > particular. I have been relying on The videos of > > David Swenson and his book. They are excellent, > in my > > opinion. I especially appreciate the book. I saw > the > > video first and that was my introduction to > Astanga. > > I would not have been able to grasp the vinyasa > > without at least seeing it. Prior to that I did > yoga > > Sivananda style. My last good run of practice was > > longer ago than I care to think about. My current > > practice is about six months old now. I started > with > > Sivananda style sun salutations. I had to start > slow > > since I am not twenty-two. I am forty-three. I > was > > so stiff in the neck that it was becoming > dangerous to > > drive. I couldn't turn my head fast enough. > Shortly > > after I started I was introduced to Ashtanga by a > > friend who had done some Ashtanga while in Bali. > I > > feel thousands of times better now. I do the > Primary > > Series at least a couple of times a week and one > of > > David Swenson's short forms on other days. Some > days > > I do asanas have practiced in the past. You are > very > > lucky to be starting Ashtanga so young. You > should > > look at Yoga as something you will be doing the > rest > > of your life. Therefore there is no hurry to get > into > > Padmasana. You will be sitting in Padmasana for > fifty > > or sixty years. For now, take it to a stretch > that> > > is tight, but not too tight. Hold it there, do > Ujayi > > Breath, Inhale into length, Exhale deeper into the > > pose. > > > > I have several other Ashtanga books as well as a > lot > > of other Yoga books form other traditions. The > first > > book I got was Beryl Bender Bitch's Power Yoga. > It > > was pretty good, but I like Swenson's book better. > I > > also have Jois' Yoga Mala. I have just dipped > into it > > so far. I have gotten a lot out of all I have > read. > > More the philosophy behind Ashtanga than help with > the > > physical practice which is not to say that there > are > > not precise discussions of the asanas in the book. > It > > is just that I don't think they would help me do > them > > without already knowing how to do them. I expect > this > > book to help bring my understanding of the Asanas > to > > maturity. > > In the meantime the Swenson book is my bible > for > > practice. I think his asanas are things of beauty > and > > the approximations of the asanas for people like > > myself who can't get all the way into many of the > > asanas are wonderful. He has a lot of advice for > > beginners. > > One thing I would like to stress is that you > should > > really do your best to get some qualified > instruction. > > Find someone to show you how to do sun > salutations. > > Without those you won't know how to do the > vinyasa, > > the connecting movements. If you can find a class > or > > something, even better. > > The bandhas don't require Padmasana though it > > requires the bandhas, as all the asanas do. You > are > > right that the bandhas are easer to do in > Padmasana. > > And they are very beneficial when they are used > while > > in Padmasana. For now get as close as you > comfortably > > can. Watch your breath. If it is even and deep > your > > asana is more than likely okay. If it is ragged, > if > > you hold your breath, you have gone too far into > the > > pose and had better back off to a more comfortable > > position. Enjoy that for a while. Always do your > > poses in the moment. Not what you want to do, not > what > > you think you ought to be able to do, not what you > did > > yesterday, go into the pose with full attention to > the > > body at that moment. > > I have just now taken a look at the Larry > Shultz > > manual again and it is more detailed than I > remember > > it being. It should be very helpful to you. I > still > > recommend getting Swenson's book and videos. > === message truncated === Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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