A Starter Question On Flexibility

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

So, I have been a desk jockey for about 8 years now with very little exercise, and as I am now 42 years old I am really keen to do something to keep my body working and get my mind in a good place. Yoga is something I am really keen to get in to as the mental, spiritual and physical benefits resonate very much with me. I just can’t even get started now. :frowning:

The problem is my flexibility. Even as a sporty teen playing Rugby, Cricket and Hockey, I could never get close to touch my toes (even ankle tops was a no go), so this isn’t wholly a recent condition thing. But now it is much worse. Now with my legs locked, touching my knees hurts the back of my knees / top of calfs. At a push I can just touch below my knees, but it hurts like hell.

I am 6’5" with a long-ish back compared to my legs, but not overweight. Am desperate to get into Yoga but even getting into a starter version of any poses causes me so much pain in the hamstrings that I just can’t do it - let alone focus on the benefits :frowning: Everything other than that back of knees / hamstring works fine. I can get into most positions that don’t involve hamstrings, but I really need to be able to work that core area to be able to get the benefits - I think. Things like forward bends, downward dog etc just don’t work.

So please - any suggestions on how to stretch the hamstrings so I can get onto the bottom rung of the yoga ladder.

Thanks

Gary

#2

Check the Iyengar Centre in Maida Vale, or the Sivananda Centre in Putney. They do good beginners classes, make sure the instructor knows of any pain your experiencing.

I’d also recommend checking in with a good osteopath or other ‘healer.’

Don’t worry about flexibility, that comes with time as does relief from pain. Don’t push too hard in a pose, aim instead to establish a regular and consistent practice.

#3

Check the Iyengar Centre in Maida Vale, or the Sivananda Centre in Putney. They do good beginners classes, make sure the instructor knows of any pain your experiencing.

I’d also recommend checking in with a good osteopath or other ‘healer.’

Don’t worry about flexibility, that comes with time as does relief from pain. Don’t push too hard in a pose, aim instead to establish a regular and consistent practice.

#4

Incredibly common SurelyNot.
Consider using a barometer other than the nature of your hamstrings. You’ve made it self evident as to why they are as they are and that which is built up over four decades goes not go quietly into the night in four weeks.

Forward bends are not an appropriate starting point for beginners especially when said beginners have no physical activity in their living, are over 40, and drive a desk. For the work that does either a) help to open hamstrings and b) requires open hamstrings you’ll need a teacher. Frankly I would only work in the former category, for obvious reasons.

Drew Stallcop is a 2,000-hour certified Purna Yoga teacher. He is quite skilled in therapeutics and could easily craft an appropriate practice for your current nature. Then it is up to you to do it.

I trust you can google him here in London without additional assistance?

#5

Thank you both for your comments. I’ll be honest I had hoped to get some home based stretches as even though I don’t have any obvious health issues from appearances, I feel I would need to put some prior homework in before joining a yoga session as a) I’d feel ridiculous trying to do it as I feel right now and b) I can only liken it to other physical activities I do know where you need to be able to make it onto the starting blocks before you get the benefit.

But I understand what you are saying. I’ll have to consider this though. Frankly, an open class would be a problem for me. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it. I’ve read all over the site about how classes should be but I have some work to do physically, emotionally and spiritually before I can expose myself to a class. I fully accept this limitation about where I am right now. But I would like to move past it somehow. My wife goes to Yoga classes and even she said in no uncertain terms - ‘its not for you’ about the open classes. I do need to have just a very small amount of flexibility before attending a public class. And I actually I have very good flexibility everywhere other than hams. So hence this specific question which I feel would help me to get to the starting blocks.

Which leaves 1-2-1 tuition which frankly I don’t have the money for. I can almost hear the massed cries of ‘but health and wellbeing are so important’ - and I agree. But it is about feeding the kids, not about another DVD player. Back to flying the desk I guess.

#6

Points well made.

I would suggest doing 30 minutes with Drew, focus on the Hip Series, have him give you a handout, then do it twice a day for the rest of your life. Shouldn’t reduce the marmite on your table very much.

#7

Being 10 years younger but having the same challanges (working a desk, being unable to touch my toes for well over a decade) I will say this.

I’ve been recently attending classes on a daily basis. Taking care to make sure I don’t hurt myself. One of my goals is to touch my toes… However after days of hip streching and bending, lunging and twisting i’ve noitced something.

This isn’t like a weight lift, or a excersize based off will. Simply put, when your body can it “will”. Each day I get closer, but I’ve found if I focus on that one movement I am not doing what I should be.

#8

Gordon,

Many thanks. I have contacted Drew now and asked him for a session as you suggested. Appreciate the comments.

Thanks

#9

not gonna fix the problem unless you get to work on it. As others said find some good beginner stuff and take it easy. The results you desire will come in time.

#10

Noted. Will do as suggested, but it is amazing how many obstacles the mind places in the way to avoid embracing something that is good for you, you want to do but which is outside of immediate experience. Baby steps needed, and will do. Just trying to find the right baby steps.

#11

If you’re surviving the rigors of an office job and rush hour travel, a yoga class is going to seem like bliss!

#12

>>it is amazing how many obstacles the mind places in the way to avoid >>embracing something that is good for you, you want to do but which is >>outside of immediate experience

It is also amazing that the more one practices yoga that one realizes how much the practices actually work with the mind and one’s awareness… provided one finds a genuine yoga teacher…

And one gets ‘to know oneself’ in many ways, including becoming more familiar with the ‘types of tricks’ one’s own mind plays, and the limitations that it ‘imposes’ upon us… and the things it holds us back from doing in life… and in even more time of practicing yoga, one learns how to ‘drop these mind tricks’ and to become much freer more creative and living more from the heart.

I wish you well with your practice.

That which often starts with one particular goal in mind (e.g. touch my toes) can often blossom into much bigger and life changing benefits that come through the practice.

Best Wishes,
Dave

#13

[QUOTE=Terence;52202]If you’re surviving the rigors of an office job and rush hour travel, a yoga class is going to seem like bliss![/QUOTE]

Haha, so true.

Anyway, although I was quite flexible before starting Yoga, I found that after practicing for a while, I was even more flexible. So, yes, I agree with the others. It will happen in due time.