Guest guest Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Regarding the questions from Tanya and Loredana, In the past I suffered from injuries and I am currently still working with them. The best thing to do is to live in the present moment and respect your current body.I am not saying there aren't poses you could do that would be therapeutic, I am saying you can take regular Ashtanga poses, and with a little creativity, modify them so that they are accessible for your body. I had a gentleman come to my class last night and he was missing a hand and his practice was stronger than most people in there who had all their limbs. He instinctively knew what to do with his body and he was focused. Eventually, your body will slowly start to respond and you may be able to eventually, over time, do the full expressions of the poses but I would not let that be the focus of the practice. I have learned to just enjoy breathing, enjoy the feeling of my body stretching in the poses and I don't have any preconceived notions of what it will look like. The ultimate goal of Asana(as opposed to the other limbs) is to create a healthy body(there are other benefits). If you hurt yourself, you are not healthy and you are not practicing Ahimsa IE nonviolence. Trust me, if you do poses before your body is ready, you will build scar tissue and further injure yourself and you may not ever make a total recovery. Also Loredana, when you say bridge are you referring to wheel? You should be able to do a Bridge pose even if you don't raise your hips all the way from the floor. Wheel is a whole nother pose all together and it is not just about the lower back. It requires a strong core, legs, and shoulders. If you are weak in any of these areas, your back could be compensating for it. A good teacher should be able to help you with your wheel and figure out where the issue is. It is possible that you may need to do Bridge until everything is balanced. Also, remember to hold your Bandhas through out the practice. If you don't, you may be leaving your back unprotected which results in an exaggerated sway in the back which leads to back injuries. This occurs alot during upward facing dog. Dropping down too far in the back can cause injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Thank you collete and shanna for your input as regards to my question. I will try to follow all your advice. I should try to enjoy more my asanas and do more flexibility exercises of my back muscles as well as legs. Thank you also shanna for your word of caution. I am just wondering why some people who does not even do yoga and yet can do some asanas perpectly well. Thank you again. OM SHANTI, lore ashtangayoga , shanna small <lashannasmall wrote: > > Regarding the questions from Tanya and Loredana, In the past I suffered from injuries and I am currently still working with them. The best thing to do is to live in the present moment and respect your current body.I am not saying there aren't poses you could do that would be therapeutic, I am saying you can take regular Ashtanga poses, and with a little creativity, modify them so that they are accessible for your body. I had a gentleman come to my class last night and he was missing a hand and his practice was stronger than most people in there who had all their limbs. He instinctively knew what to do with his body and he was focused. > > Eventually, your body will slowly start to respond and you may be able to eventually, over time, do the full expressions of the poses but I would not let that be the focus of the practice. I have learned to just enjoy breathing, enjoy the feeling of my body stretching in the poses and I don't have any preconceived notions of what it will look like. The ultimate goal of Asana(as opposed to the other limbs) is to create a healthy body(there are other benefits). If you hurt yourself, you are not healthy and you are not practicing Ahimsa IE nonviolence. > > Trust me, if you do poses before your body is ready, you will build scar tissue and further injure yourself and you may not ever make a total recovery. > > > Also Loredana, when you say bridge are you referring to wheel? You should be able to do a Bridge pose even if you don't raise your hips all the way from the floor. Wheel is a whole nother pose all together and it is not just about the lower back. It requires a strong core, legs, and shoulders. If you are weak in any of these areas, your back could be compensating for it. A good teacher should be able to help you with your wheel and figure out where the issue is. It is possible that you may need to do Bridge until everything is balanced. Also, remember to hold your Bandhas through out the practice. If you don't, you may be leaving your back unprotected which results in an exaggerated sway in the back which leads to back injuries. This occurs alot during upward facing dog. Dropping down too far in the back can cause injuries. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 Hi  Some people are more flexible, even if they don't do yoga, we are not all equal in flexibility, and some people have a background in dance, gym...but it doesn't matter because yoga is not a physical exercise (even if the postures,specially in Ashtanga are very physical), and its not a competition. I am not more flexible than a piece of wood, in more than one year practice, I am not able to go furher than Marichyasana B ! But I enjoy my practice everyday and the stillness it brings in my mind and body. Because of my daily practice, I have dared to do things that I didn;t dare to do before, and that's more important to me than putting my legs behind my neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 You asked why some people who have never done yoga have no problems. Every body is different. Your lifestyle,age,gender and genetics play a big part in the flexibility and strength present in the body. That being said, it doesn't matter what some one elses's body looks like. Focus on you. Trying to look like someone else is a straight shot to yoga injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 thanks shanna for your comment on my querry. its very helpful. best regards loredana ________________________________ shanna small <lashannasmall ashtangayoga Friday, February 13, 2009 9:36:32 PM ashtanga yoga Re:(no subject) Tanya and Loredana's question You asked why some people who have never done yoga have no problems. Every body is different. Your lifestyle,age, gender and genetics play a big part in the flexibility and strength present in the body. That being said, it doesn't matter what some one elses's body looks like. Focus on you. Trying to look like someone else is a straight shot to yoga injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Mind-Body-Spirit or is it Mind Body Spirit? ARe they connected or are they seperate? ARe they three seperate things or are they a single unity? From an Abhidharma perspective you'll find that they are three seperate things only having an allusion to a singularity but in the Yogacara or Varjanaya etc. you'll find that the Alaya-vijnana is a psuedo-representation of the singularity of the mind-body-spirit existance. So, this " Buddha-Nature " , being in every sentient being, then has the ability to translate the essence that the singularity of the mind-body-spirit experiences into it's available and applicable form. Some people are just not " loose " enough to even begin to attempt the asanas and their equal meditations, however, some people are well versed in the flexibility that is required and can instantly accomplish such positions. Now I'm getting way to deep since I hear John Lennon singing INSTANT KARMA, so lets just take it from there shall we. toodles, colette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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