I always knew I had to engage the inner thighs in back-bends. What I didn't know is that my mind did not register where in the body the inner thighs actually are. I had no clue. No mind/body connection. I could have kept going for the rest of my life 'pretending' I had inner thighs.
Sometimes we resist things because we just resist. I did not have a block at home so I never tried the suggestion that countless yogis (including probably you who are reading) left in comments throughout the years.
The Un-ashtangi reminded me of it last Tuesday and the next day, at PureYoga, they happened to have one of them (or 40).
I garbed the orange thing (everything at Pure is orange) with that distasteful look in my eyes that many of us ashtangis pretend to have when it comes to props, and thought about what to do with it. I sat and looked at it as if it was the most foreign object, something I had not touched since, like 2003.
I asked John (who never had a need for one at all -he is a master back-bender-). He said "we will probably have to experiment". At first I put it between my knees. No good. Then John suggested between the thighs. I did, and... Wow!
REVELATION!
This [picture below] is the next opportunity I had at home after asking Amazon for a one day delivery of a block. Now I have one, well, actually two, cause they came as an offer.
Notice the Friday practice with the block [picture]: feet are aligned and not splaying, legs are MUCH straighter. Arms, well, arms are a different story.
The most amazing insight is how far I can push back straightening the legs because the block is there AND that I actually can make the mind-thigh connection. I feel them. Never had. Thank you Un-ashtangi, and all of you who told me again and again.
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| Enter: The Block! |
The Un-ashtangi reminded me of it last Tuesday and the next day, at PureYoga, they happened to have one of them (or 40).
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| Only last Tuesday pre-revelation day |
I asked John (who never had a need for one at all -he is a master back-bender-). He said "we will probably have to experiment". At first I put it between my knees. No good. Then John suggested between the thighs. I did, and... Wow!
REVELATION!
This [picture below] is the next opportunity I had at home after asking Amazon for a one day delivery of a block. Now I have one, well, actually two, cause they came as an offer.
Notice the Friday practice with the block [picture]: feet are aligned and not splaying, legs are MUCH straighter. Arms, well, arms are a different story.
The most amazing insight is how far I can push back straightening the legs because the block is there AND that I actually can make the mind-thigh connection. I feel them. Never had. Thank you Un-ashtangi, and all of you who told me again and again.
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| Huston: We have inner-thighs |
Thanks Claudia, they encourage us to use one at Jivamukti, but I never really was convinced. You've now made me re-consider and start using my blocks too. I dislike props also btw...
ReplyDeleteMax, I hear you, in ashtanga they are a bit of a rarity, but helpful indeed! at least in this case, I can't believe I did not feel my inner thighs! let me know how goes it! would like to hear.
ReplyDeletei am gonna try it
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, using a block in between my knees jacks my back up. I think it depends on the person.
ReplyDeleteWhen the inner lines of the thighs are engaged, say 'hello' to your psoas. Looking good Claudia!
ReplyDeletei tried but i am not flexible with back bending, for sur you feel inside legs
ReplyDeletenow you need a strap (for the arms) :))) enjoy experimenting...
ReplyDeleteWoowhoo looking good. I'm glad the suggestion worked out for you. The next important step will be to figure out when you don't need the block anymore :)
ReplyDeleteShanna, yes, guess I would not expect anything to work for all... just for me I suppose..
ReplyDeleteYogaKitty I am saying hello alright! :-)
Lilasvb I hear you it takes sooo long sometimes for flexibility of back to come, I think there is a post there...
Ahu, you know WHAT? hee hee, now if I add a strap I will be all Iyengared up... thought about it, me-thinks it needs a bit more time, it hurts quite a bit
And Un-Ashtangi, this is all your fault! hee hee, thank you again for the tip, feeling it now, and funny you mentioned that cause in practice today I let the block go to the floor, I may only need it from time to time now. I hope so!
Hi Claudia. I had problems with my thighs too. My teacher kept saying 'feel the burn in the thighs' and for years I just couldn't feel anything! Straightening the legs really helps. I was recently given this tip to get a different part of the back to bend which opens the shoulders which straightens the arms and also helps to get the legs straight:
ReplyDeleteHave back of heels at such a distance from buttocks so that fingertips just touch the back of them; stretch arms out overhead; lift hips and stretch arms as far away as possible; then place hands under shoulders with elbows close together, then push into the legs. You will travel forward towards the feet first then lift and bend. You should find you achieve a really high backbend and can engage both the arms and legs :) Another tip is to get someone to push down on your pelvis bones either side of your waist to create a resistance assist, this works well for me too :)
Hi Micqui, yes straightening the legs -revelation- really helps! thanks for the tip on the arm straightening, will try tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to get a block right away and try this! Here in Mysore Sharath is convinced that it's possible for me to come up, I'm not so sure and people have been saying the same thing about using the inner thighs and I have the same lack of mind/body connection. I'll try it with one of the sponge blocks on Gokalum main street and see how I get on, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnon, how exciting that Sharath is convinced you can come up! :-) I think this might be the thing, for feeling the inner thighs... good luck!, and please let us know how you do!
ReplyDeleteHey Claud, nice post. It's always beneficial to look at the same pose from a different angle. speaking of which, David Williams holds upward dog for 5 breaths during primary series, as a counter-pose to all the forward bending. I found this article http://www.yogachicago.com/mar03/williams.shtml
ReplyDeleteand I think it's great. I'll definitely try it in my practice as I feel it will help my backbends.
Keep up the good work!
Anon, thanks for the link, interesting I already do that, maybe not for 5 breaths, but always for 1.5 to 2 long breaths, perhaps in every other updog. I find that it prepares me well for the backbending at the end and also, as you rightly say, it is a great counterpose for the vast forwardbending! :-)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that this post really helped me. I'd actually never been told to engage my inner thighs, so I gave it a try (without a block) and it totally changed the asana for me! I now find it so much easier to straighten my legs. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSarah, isnt that a revelation? I am glad it worked for you too, the un-ashtangi gave us both a great tip! I keep on getting deeper on it and dont even need the block anymore, I see you did not even need it, wonderful that you can now straighten your legs!
ReplyDeleteThen I ALSO found very helpful what Micqui mentioned, which I am doing every day and works to engage the arms too, the part where she said:
Have back of heels at such a distance from buttocks so that fingertips just touch the back of them; stretch arms out overhead; lift hips and stretch arms as far away as possible; then place hands under shoulders with elbows close together, then push into the legs. You will travel forward towards the feet first then lift and bend. You should find you achieve a really high backbend and can engage both the arms and legs :
Thank you Micqui!
Glad to hear from you Sarah!
I tried Micqui's tip yesterday, and it made my backbend even deeper. Thank you Ladies!
ReplyDelete