April '04 questions

[Chandra]

April 6, 2004.

Q1 - Several questions came up yesterday in our study group. We were wondering about vertical abduction and adduction of the arms, what muscles are used and if there is a reason that this movement is not part of the joint freeing series. Also scapular elevation and depression-why not part of the joint freeing series?

Q2 - We were playing with Downward Facing Dog and would love some more explanation about internal and external rotation of the arms when in arm flexion. On page 25 of the manual it lists that the lats. Are used in both ad and abduction of the horizontal arm movement. We spent some time with your book about muscles and their movements and still couldn’t quite discern how the lats. Do both these movements and felt we could use a deeper understanding of the lats. In general.

Q 3 - We ended up doing the poses you recommend for the lats. and read on page 237 of the book that Camel pose is helpful for sciatica–could you explain this in more detail?

Q4 - Also and finally when doing spinal twist on page 227 of the book some had questions about avoiding spinal twists entirely if there is SI joint instability. Some teachers had been taught to always end class with a spinal twist to neutralize the movements of the other postures. In the case of SI instability what would you suggest to replace spinal twist to end the asana practice? Thank- you Mukunda. If number of questions indicates learning then we must be doing OK!!!

[Mukunda]

A1 - Just a choice to limit the series. The muscles involved in these additional motions are dealing with in other positions. I wanted to focus on presenting anatomy via the JFS and leave such variations to those students needing extra attention to shoulders. Those with neurological problems in neck and shoulders will benefit from giving the full motions as you are describing.

A2 - Latissimus dorsi does shoulder extension, depression, and internal rotation. The reference in the book is citing my preference for keeping the shoulders down (depressed) while moving the arms. They are performing a minor contraction (they are secondary movers) in horizontal abduction and adduction. Their major motion is extension as in camel pose.

A3 - All postures that tone the hamstrings and gluteus muscles (especially hip extension) are beneficial for sciatica. Optimal is with hips in external rotation, thus giving a stretch to the adductors and those adductors that are external rotators. The reason being that the sciatic is frequently constricted in the piriformis region and stretching the antagonists to it will release this portion of the sciatica?s pathway.

A4 - I agree with general teaching about twists neutralizing spine. But in case of sacroiliac instability, the twists can over stretch the joint and destabilize. Instead it is good to end with Apanasana (energy freeing) or Darnikasana (child pose), dynamic and static as these also neutralize spinal situations. Questions indicate involvement and that is always a good sign of doing homework. Keep it up!