Jumping back

[Guest guest]

As someone else wrote in, jumping (or "floating" as this person wrote it and

David Swenson teaches it - great way of describing it) back from sitting

involves engaging the bandhas. Mulabandha and Uddiyanabandha give you the

"lift" you need to get your hips through your arms.

 

Also, remember the physics of this jump-back: when you press down, your

body lifts up (opposite forces).

 

Something I forgot to mention last time: in order to get the feel of the

press-down/lift-up, try using not-too-big yoga blocks. Place them next to

your hips, and put your hands flat upon them. Use these blocks to give

yourself the leverage you need to lift your hips up, and practice rocking

forward and backward, while engaging the bandhas.

 

Of course, for strict purist Ashtangis, the above is not appropriate, as

props are not used. I think props can be helpful but shouldn't be an

always-used crutch.

 

And again as someone else wrote, I suggest watching videos of the ashtanga

series (eg., David Swenson, John Scott), and observe their jump-backs. Then,

visualize yourself doing the same thing. I think "seeing yourself" doing

asanas/movements helps one's practice and confidence immensely.

 

Namaste-

Heather Marie

[Guest guest]

It took me a couple years to get jumping back as well. Using blocks

did help--however I did injure my shoulder using blocks while

jumping back and one should approach this with caution. When you

jump back with blocks since you are higher than you would be doing

it naturally the body can "sink" in chaturanga, therefore you

actually would go lower (hope this makes sense) than you would in

the natural position. This puts the shoulder in a very awkward,

compromised position and if you do this throughout primary series

the repetitions can lead to injury--it caused me to have a rotator

cuff injury. So just be aware of the problems that could arise with

this technique. And I have big, strong shoulders for a woman!

 

That said. I have been playing with jumping through with blocks.

Since I have been jumping through with crossed legs for years

decided to try to start with straight and even with blocks its a

difficult manuver for me. Any suggestions on straight leg jump

throughs?

 

 

 

 

 

ashtanga yoga, "ImpliedPresence"

<hmmmmmmm@o...> wrote:

>

> As someone else wrote in, jumping (or "floating" as this person

wrote it and

> David Swenson teaches it - great way of describing it) back from

sitting

> involves engaging the bandhas. Mulabandha and Uddiyanabandha give

you the

> "lift" you need to get your hips through your arms.

>

> Also, remember the physics of this jump-back: when you press

down, your

> body lifts up (opposite forces).

>

> Something I forgot to mention last time: in order to get the feel

of the

> press-down/lift-up, try using not-too-big yoga blocks. Place them

next to

> your hips, and put your hands flat upon them. Use these blocks to

give

> yourself the leverage you need to lift your hips up, and practice

rocking

> forward and backward, while engaging the bandhas.

>

> Of course, for strict purist Ashtangis, the above is not

appropriate, as

> props are not used. I think props can be helpful but shouldn't be

an

> always-used crutch.

>

> And again as someone else wrote, I suggest watching videos of the

ashtanga

> series (eg., David Swenson, John Scott), and observe their jump-

backs. Then,

> visualize yourself doing the same thing. I think "seeing

yourself" doing

> asanas/movements helps one's practice and confidence immensely.

>

> Namaste-

> Heather Marie