It is that time of the month again, when the moment to video tape backbends comes around, so I was happy to hear Eddie tell me that my back bending is better, thank you!, seems that all the focusing, slowing down and hard work is paying off. I am happy.
Today in Uttihta Hasta Padangusthasana, perhaps for the first time in 4 years, I breathed all 5 counts, even though I was being assisted. I realized that my tendency to rush has to do with a) not trusting that I will be able to stay in it, or b) boredom, or c) just being uncomfortable for being assisted, as in, what if the teacher gets bored?
Picture left by
Arjuna.
None of it of course has anything to do with the practice and it was interesting to breath through the thoughts firing up.
The leg is getting up there, I have noticed lots of improvements. All in all, happy camper on this awfully rainy wet Sunday.
Do you get a reaction to Uttitha hasta too?
Great news, I still feel like a kid when I get a teacher compliment. Bring on the solo drop backs :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I have a reaction to uttihita hasta ... But it's not printable.
ReplyDeleteit is by far my least favorite pose. So far, it's the only one I feel I've had no improvement on!
ReplyDeletethanks Helen! and yes, anytime now I hope they will be coming
ReplyDeleteGrimmly you crack me up, now I am curious! ha ha
Maepress, I hear you, it is not exactly comfy isn't it? I have periods of disliking it intensely and periods of just disliking it... I will check your blog.
I struggled with Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana when I did home practice, but in the Shala it has become a favourite. I almost always get the adjustment for this one and I work harder with the teacher than I do alone. I even find that I lengthen my breaths so I can stay longer. Today, no adjustment, but I noticed that I'm more comfortable and moving deeper on my own.
ReplyDeleteKaivalya that is GREAT!. I have to say that I got adjusted so much that in the end it did get a little easier than, in the beginning, but you have taken it to a different realm by making it a fav, that is great.
ReplyDeleteUttihta Hasta Padangusthasana...that's one I think I'm a long long way away from...then, I've thought that about a lot of other asanas and, again and again, one day I've just found myself there (most recently with forearm stand, which I didn't think I'd ever be able to do until, a month or so ago, I leapt up and said "whoa...I'm doing a forearmstand...").
ReplyDeleteIts DEF not one of my favorite poses, BUTTTTTTT, it used to be way more difficult until one day in practice I realized that in supta padangustasana my leg was inches from my face. Which then led me to realize that I was so much more flexible because I wasn't tensing up my butt the way I would in UHP lifting the leg. Once I figured that out I was able to get into UHP more comfortably and then balance originates from the bandas instead of the butt.
ReplyDeleteDr Jay that is a very "whoa" moment, must feel so good!
ReplyDeleteUrbanashtangi that is a very interesting thought, that you were not tensing the butt while in supta padangustasana,I will pay attention to that in practice today, now I am curious because I also get to be a lot more flexible when reclined...
A challenging pose for me, too. You may be doing this already but try lifting the leg as much as you can with the hand rather than the leg.
ReplyDeleteToday I tried to feel all the muscles in both uttita hasta and then on the reclined floor version, I noticed how even though I never do, it is possible to tense the butt even though the feet is pointed... and on the other hand I ensured it was relaxed while standing.
ReplyDeleteHelen, it is funny I am intuitively doing something like that, perhaps because of watching people in the class go so high, I kind of felt in the body that it would not be possible to do such feast with leg traction only, so yes, your comment is very welcome, it helps!