Stuff

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam readers. Thanks to all who responded to my first email. I now have

some more input. Firstly, I've started doing the spinal set and I'm rather

enjoying it. Earlier today I almost felt that my spine was already slightly

more flexible but I guess that may well be a bit of wishful

thinking/imagination; these things take time as we know. For some time now,

when I flex my back I feel what I can only describe as a

graunching/squelching sound. It's not uncomfortable at all and I hope it's

just the sound of more mobile vertebrae moving over each other. It's

definitely not a grinding so I don't think it's early onset of arthritis but

I'd like to hear what others may believe/experience.

 

I've been doing the cobra as part of my hatha yoga and, at thirty eight I'm

nowhere near doing what I call the full monty ie getting feet to head. Does

KY advocate this position too or do you tend to do the same as in the flex

set illustrated ie feet horizontal? Also, has anyone started yoga in their

middle age, (complete with semi-seized back like so many of us!) and

subsequently been able to do the full cobra? Is there hope for me?

 

I've downloaded so much of the site including all of the lessons now so I'm

better armed to learn and practise. However, despite reading the pranayama

article I really don't follow the slow deep breathing technique or the BOF.

My understanding of the latter is essentially that it's fast breathing in

using the navel to pull down a deep breath and forcing out just as fast, all

through the nose. Doesn't this cause hyperventillation? Anyway, I feel

rather stupid, I usually pick things up very quickly. I've already seen some

earlier comments in the digest but perhaps there's some video I can download

because I want to get things right and not get a bad habit. I don't know of

any classes in KY outside London and I live near Manchester so for the time

being I guess I'm on my own. .

 

By the way, I love this digest Gordon!

 

Matt

 

 

**********************************************************************

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and

intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they

are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify

the system manager.

 

This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by

MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.

 

www.mimesweeper.com

**********************************************************************

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Matt!

 

As for those beginning yoga in their middle age, I definately count

in that category. I started back in March of this year and I'm 34. I

had never tried yoga before this and I LOVE it.

 

Regarding cobra pose, as I mentioned, I've never done yoga previously

and haven't had any hatha yoga class since starting. The only type of

cobra pose I've been doing is the 'version' in the spinal flex set.

However, I can do the camel pose, which sounds somewhat like what you

are descibing. Except, instead of lying on your hips/belly, like in

cobra, your weight is on the shins as you arch back, over your legs,

hands grabbing ankles and letting the head 'fall' towards your feet.

I had done the spinal flex set as my first set in yoga for almost 2

months before trying anything else though. And I think that really

helped loosed my spine up to allow me to do those types of poses. I

still do spinal set several times a week to keep flexible. So keep

that one up and your body should gradually become more pliable

allowing you to progress to more complicated poses.

 

Christa