Asana Advice

soreness after second series

feeds@yuku.com (divingchickie) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:25:28 GMT

Hi, I have had a personal practice for over a year now and recently have started work with a friend of mine who is teaching me the second series. I have very good control of my breathe and I know my personal limits with how far to stretch and what postures I can do etc. We have started practicing second series on Thursdays. I practice the primary series on mon. tue. wed. and normally fri. and sat. However, since starting the second series, on fri and sat. I am rather sore and stiff. It...

Too Big to Fail?

feeds@yuku.com (fernando) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:59:48 GMT

Does a person of average weight have to lose some pounds to make progress in Ashtanga or is it more where the weight shows up: such as around the waist making twists more difficult? I took class with a woman who had a beautiful practice who would never be called slender.

Eka Pada Sirsasana - Body Aches

feeds@yuku.com (happyyogini) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:06:21 GMT

Hi There,

Around 2 months ago my teacher introduced Eka Pada to my sequence and must have done the pose around 30-40 times now. When I first started doing the pose I found that I was more alert, even to the point where I wasn't sleeping very well. Then things calmed down.

For the last week or so, around an hour after I complete my practice, I have started getting really bad aches in my body (mainly mid/lower back) and stiffness in the legs (My knees and thighs...

Hyperlodosis & Ashtanga

feeds@yuku.com (Mat de Maat) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:34:17 GMT

Namasté,
I've been considering Yoga for a long time, since some juvenile back deformations lead me to do some physic activities --I didn't, beforehand-- and since any common sport satisfied my "spiritual" concerns. Anyway, I've recently ordered Maehle's book, but wonder about that hyperlodosis matter. I would like to know if there is any contraindication to practise Ashtanga Yoga, when one suffers from hyperlordosis? I'd be interested in any personal...

dandasana

feeds@yuku.com (xana) — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:14:51 GMT

Hi guys i recently get my book from David Sewnson and in dandasana he say's keep the back of the knees pressing down but do not lift the heels from the floor, instead to push them forward in order to create length in the legs. However when i engage my legs my gastrocnemius don't let me keep my heels on the floor the same happen in marichyasana A & C. Is it ok don't let them in floor?

PS- I start to practice astanga since february, but in middle April i stopped until...

Prasarita Padottanasana C , problems with extending arms fully.

feeds@yuku.com (hightimes) — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:55:43 GMT

Hey , can someone please help me understand the anatomy of this pose : Prasarita Padottanasana C . I have been practising ashtanga for 2 years now and cant seem to get my arms fully extended in this pose. My arms dont come down much and seem to have a bent around my elbows. Suprisingly , this also happens in halasana and karna pidasana . Any idea why is this happening ? Also any recommendations of other poses or stretches to help me open this area further or to get into the ideal pose ....

Too much back bending?

feeds@yuku.com (yogithomas) — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:34:42 GMT

I love the back bending part of this practice. It feels so great, so releasing, sometimes I worry if I push my back too much but then sometimes I wonder if I could be pushing it much more...

I practice to Supta Vajrasana. If I'm visiting a shala (I don't live near one) or running short on time then I will practice through to my last posture and do the back bending which Sharath teaches in Mysore; 3 x Urdhva Dhanurasna, stand up, 3 x drop back, 1 x half bend.. I can grab my...

Do I engage my legs / lift my knee?

feeds@yuku.com (SassieB) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:35:12 GMT

Hi there

I know I am supposed to engage my legs / lift my knees in asanas such as: Prasarita Padottanasana A, but should I also be engaging my legs for the seated forward bend asanas such as: Paschimottanasana A or just keep them straight.

Thank you in advance

pain in ??kindneys?? in Paschimottanasan

feeds@yuku.com (divingchickie) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:33:34 GMT

I am confused as to what the dristi should be in these asanas. I see some teaching looking towards their toes and other with their heads completely down looking between their knees or legs. If I try to keep my chin up and look at my toes I have a strange sensation in the area of my kidneys. To say that it is complete pain is unsure, rather a very uncomfortable feeling. If I drop the head down, still keeping my back straight, I am able to go further into the pose and with no discomfort....

slipping in Marichasana C

feeds@yuku.com (divingchickie) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:44:25 GMT

I am able to bind in Marichasana C and hold onto my wrists, however, I always feel like my arm is slipping up over my knee. Before I bind I always take a good breath using my bandhas to lengeth my spine. Then I bind and while using my breath, begin to twist to look over my shoulder. As I twist further and further, my arm slowly slips off and generally I end because my arm slipped off, not because I had my 5 complete breaths. Any advice?

PARIVRITTA PARSVAKONASANA

feeds@yuku.com (xana) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:13:15 GMT

If there is an answer for this my apologies, but i couldn't find.

I struggle so much in this asana; first i can't reach my hand to the floor next to my feet (no way) but it's ok cause i make variation in pray pose with my hands trying to push my right elbow to my right knee but i just loos my balance and there is no way that i can stay for 5 breaths.
Also struggle with other asanas, but let me start with this one first:)
Any advise, please? Sorry, i mean put my...

bakasana and headstand?

feeds@yuku.com (PWells) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:58:54 GMT

Hi,

I have difficulty in going from Bakasana into a headstand. I can get my head down on the floor and can also place my hands but I cannot get the lift (I know that at this point it's all bandhas!)...

Does anyone have any helpful hints or suggestions?

I am a pretty athletic and very flexible guy who stands about 5'11" and I am pretty decent shape but I know that I am likely just not engaging my bandhas correctly...

Dwi Pada Sirsanasa- Vinyasa Question

feeds@yuku.com (jmsdc96) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:05:42 GMT

After holding dwi pada with hands in prayer position, do you hold the lift up for 1 or 5 breaths before straightening the legs and going into bakasana & jumping back....Different teachers have told me different things, I was just wondering what Sharath is teaching now.
While on the topic...for Tittibasana...after tittibasana D....do you go into tittibasana for 5 breaths (or 1 breath) and then bakasana for 5 breaths (or 1 breath)?...again, been taught different things from different...

New in Ashtanga.

feeds@yuku.com (xana) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:25:22 GMT

Start 10 days ago doing ashtanga, at the beginning of my practice i try to focus but i find it so difficult at the middle of my practice i am thinking already when i am going to finish. I do until navasana then stop and go to finishing, but there are many other asanas that i'm struggle lots. I will post later with my asanas problems, what i will like to know now is if there anybody there to advise me and encourage me to continue. I am not quitting no no..... i just need to listen some...

ashtanga vinyasa... any places in hawaii on the big island?

feeds@yuku.com (plumsmum) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:01:39 GMT

Hi I am new here and new to yoga. I want to keep my yoga up while I'm on vacation in Hawaii next month. Anyone know of any places on the big island of Hawaii? I'm open to other styles of yoga too. But I am currently doing Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. Thank you for your help.

chaturanga dandasana shoulder pain

feeds@yuku.com (markheel) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:57:45 GMT

I have been practicing for four months and I am noticing pain in my front shoulder. A new teacher that I saw for the first time tonight suggested that I should slightly alter my movement in each vinyasa as this causes the pain. This is the first I have heard about this and although I am new to the practice, in the past four months I have been consumed with learning all that I can. Has anyone else heard about this?

Knee injury

feeds@yuku.com (Sah818) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:05:49 GMT

Is this common? I have incurred this a week ago..I haven't seen a doctor yet but I think I believe I have injured my Lateral Collateral Ligament..the outside of knee. It is much better now.. I think it might have been caused by doing the marichyasana D and the baddha padmasana. Has anyone else experienced this? How does one prevent it from reoccuring..Would I need to completely stop doing these two asanas or others as well??

Trikonasana B interesting hand position - Check Pic!

feeds@yuku.com (PrimaFacieNeon) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:41:41 GMT

Has anyone seen this hand position in trik B (as demonstrated by David Miliotis) before?:

any comments?

Ankle pain in Marichiasana

feeds@yuku.com (yogithomas) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:59:32 GMT

Hey Guys, I'm hoping someone could give me some advice with an injury/pain I've acquired recently…

About three weeks ago I introduced Marichiasana B and D to my practice. I'd been unable to do them before because my hips were too restricted. When I first started B felt really satisfying and relatively easy - I could...

The Art of Back Bending I & II as taught by Acarya V. Venkatesha

feeds@yuku.com (goinsideyoga) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:57:43 GMT

If you want to gain spinal conciousness, understand back bendings, open safely i teach Back Bending workshops based on the expertise of V. Venkatesha from Atma Vikasa Center of Yoguic Sciences in Mysore. The are 2 levels for this. Level I classes last 1,30h and 7 Techniques are taught. Level II sessions are 2,30h and also include Strengthening Exercises and BAck Bending related Pranayama. Please visit my website www.goinsideyoga.com for more information.