First time James grabbed me for a dropback he went straight for the buttocks, which of course caused quite a bit of laughter. He is new at it!
Lucky girl I am that he has agreed to give dropping back a go anyway. It is amazing to me how easy he goes about it, when I would think three or sixty three times before offering.
He is not too worried about it at all, even believes I can go much further than I think and has the exact mix of confidence and luv I seem to be craving in this pose.
Lucky girl I am that he has agreed to give dropping back a go anyway. It is amazing to me how easy he goes about it, when I would think three or sixty three times before offering.
He is not too worried about it at all, even believes I can go much further than I think and has the exact mix of confidence and luv I seem to be craving in this pose.
So, after trying about 30 backbends, OK I am exaggerating, more like 6 backbends and 6 hang-back attempts he dropped me, and at the end said: 'very good' and gave me a kiss. What is there not to like?
Needless to say, home practice now gets interrupted at the end if he is not practicing with me. I call him up for help. God bless!
Here is one of the previous Back Bend attempts (after the original 3), where I am working on walking the hands towards the heels. It looks SO easy for others, but for me it gets to a point where it just hurts, the body refuses and the heels lift up. Grr.
Patience and more practice I suppose is the best course of action.
For inspiration, here is Guruji himself, dropping Olaf back in 1999...
For inspiration, here is Guruji himself, dropping Olaf back in 1999...
Claudia, I love the video of you and James!!! So cute!!! Have you ever heard of the book "Psoas Release Party"? It is available on Amazon and it is a fantastic read. I will help you I think. It describes the mechanics of the lower back and the importance of the psoas muscle. I think it will be beneficial to your drop backs.
ReplyDeleteLoved this, so lucky to have James there and willing to help with this but then why wouldn't he, does a good job too. M. is Kino size, perhaps I can persuade her to help with tictaks.
ReplyDeleteYKitty, no I had not heard of that book, thanks for mentioning! I also did not know about your blog, will add it to the roll to stay in touch :-)
ReplyDeleteGrimmly, it is lucky indeed, and he did not make any fuzz about it, totally confident he could do it, I was the nervous one! ha ha ha. Now M and Ticktacks...hmmm. those are dangerous, but I bet she would go for it, she does practice with you once in a while if I remember correctly, she would probably be VERY good at the adjustment too, I think it is beginners luck :-)
Hi Claudia, great that you have James to help you with drop backs.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I notice from your back bending photos and videos is that it doesn't seem like you're engaging your inner thigh muscles as much as you could/should. When I practiced with a teacher in Paris he encouraged me to use a block when practicing my back bends and what I noticed was that by engaging the inner thigh muscles more my back bend felt completely different.
Also by being able to access the inner thigh muscles is really beneficial in the second series back bends.
Sorry for the unsolicited advice.
You guys are so freaking cute!
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I love the video of you and James, the sweetest thing ever! You're very lucky :) ps - loved your book btw and have given it to my new housemate who I've just introduced to ashtanga!
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I love the video of you and James, the sweetest thing ever! You're very lucky :) ps - loved your book btw and have given it to my new housemate who I've just introduced to ashtanga!
ReplyDeleteUn-Ashtangi, much welcome advise, no worries at all. Anything that can help with imminet upcoming second series is good!
ReplyDeleteI do not own a block, can you believe that? I had one and now I don't! but I suppose I could use something else, great idea! will try next time I am at home practice.
LI Ashtangi thank you!! I miss you! long time no hear or see...
Micqui, thank you that is great! Hope your friends gets to love the practice too! and yes James is cute all assisting in his own Mysore room !
I love the video of you and James, Claudia :-) It's so beautiful. Come to think of it, this is the first time I have seen James in live-action (as opposed to pictures of him).
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should invite James here to give a workshop? :-) After all, he's been to Mysore, right?
Oh, and if you would like some advice on backbending/dropping back: Since James is supporting you, maybe you can try dropping back with extended legs rather than bent knees? YOu may not go quite as far in the beginning when you do this, but it is definitely a good way to get into your inner thighs and psoas, as Un-Ashtangi mentions.
ReplyDeleteI love the videos. Keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteFor those of us practicing at home without a class or teacher these are a god send.
Nobel, for my advanced backbending adjustments (including feel-good kiss at the end) I charge a pretty hefty five figure fee for workshops. I tell people every day it's all in the psoas but they never ever get it. PSOAS!
ReplyDeleteWow, James, you must make a lot of money doing these workshops. Hmm... I don't think folks in my part of the country can possibly afford your workshop fee right now :-) But we will definitely keep you in mind. I'll also be keeping a lookout for any wealthy yogi or yogini who might be interested in some help with backbending, and refer them to you :-)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI love the video, super cute. Am also struggling with all my back bends and as you say its frustrating because you look at others and it seems to so easy for them. I guess this is a lesson in controlling the ego. I sometimes feel that my back is open enough but the front of my body - inner arms, armpits, chest need to open more and I am not sure how to achieve that.
Btw...my boyfriend gets hauled out of bed at 7 am to lie on my back in baddhakonasana :)
Nobel, yes, James fancies himself a teacher already, and I see not a cheap one! hee hee...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advise, I always welcome it, funny thing is I TOTALLY THOUGHT MY LEGS WERE STRAIGHT... they are not, I see it as clearly as you see them... working on it...
James, you are funny
Anon, thank you
Rani, I feel the exact same thing, on the backbend from the floor it is the armpits and the arms that hurt a lot when I try to straighten the legs and push towards the back to extend the arms...
Nice how you get your boyfriend out of bed and he does it, sweeeeeet :-)
that's so sweet. i want a backdropper. hugs.
ReplyDeleteha ha, a "backdropper", like that!
ReplyDelete