Hello,
I have been trying to get good at siddhasana the last couple of years but havent seen much progress. My legs tend to get numb after 17 min. Is there any exercises or asanas I can practise that can help me get good at siddhasana sooner.
Thanks a lot.
Well it happens due to blockage of flow of blood during such posture so in order that the flow is not restricted practice surya namaskar for the better flow of prana and together with that when you sit in siddhaasana try to put a soft cloth under your buttock so that its a bit raised. I think its your one leg that goes numb so try putting the cloth well it should be thick and soft enough and when you can sit for longer duration try to bring down the thickness of cloth little by little. It will help for your body to adjust to new formation gradually but effectively. Try putting a cloth under ur buttock let it raise a little bit and see if it helps to prolong the duration and also see that the asana(cloth) upon which you sit below the feet is also not too solid. Meaning the asana (cloth) on which you sit as a whole be also soft. As it would help not to constrict any vein in your feet due to the weight of your body. Hope it helps.
Ok, thanks.
Hi Seekr
Numbness in the legs is common and caused by compression of the sciatic nerve in the seated position.
Stretching out forwards in Ekarajakapotasana is excellent at lengthening Piriformis and gluteus maximus which if tight can also occlude the nerve.
When sitting take 5 cms of a folded blanket for support. try to tilt the pelvis forwards and get weight on the sitting bones away from the soft tissues. If the knees dont rest on the floor use support till you can relax the thighs completely. Keep a lift of the chest.
Good Luck, you’ll find your seat.
Yes,
as sukhashanti said “Numbness in the legs is common and caused by compression of the sciatic nerve in the seated position”
Thank you guys. I’ll try Ekarajakapotasana.
Tried to link a pic for you but I dont have privileges to yet. You can search net images for “pigeon forward bend hip opener”.
Best
Thanks a lot. I found the video on youtube. I tried the asana today. It seems like just the thing I needed.
If you get comfortably deep into the pose try a mild mulabandha and see if you can learn to switch off the tight muscles around the hips.
If the pose is too deep stay up on your elbows for the first 2 weeks.
Ok, thx
Seekr,
Please be aware that Ekarajakapotasana is actually a back bend. folding forward in this posture puts a harmful twist on the knee and can damage your meniscus. Although you will see this done in many yoga classes in countless studios across the US, Iyengar instructors are Strongly against this posture.
There are better, safer ways to open your hips. See Balasana, Gomukhasana(or Supta Gomukhasana), and Ardha Mandalasana.
Hi Rdlagrand
Just to clarify the variation I refered to is a forward bend.
Stretching out forwards in Ekarajakapotasana is excellent at lengthening Piriformis and gluteus maximus which if tight can also occlude the nerve.
Here is an example.
For the purpose of sciatic nerve release and if one is tight then sit on a folded blanket.
This is a favourite pose in many styles and from my experience it only bothers meniscuses which are injured and inflamed already.
Complete beginners can benefit from adduction of the forward hip and pointing the toe. Advanced can abduct the forward hip and dorsiflex the ankle.
I agree there are many other options to open the hips, the beauty of eka pada is it relates very nicely with siddhasana in fact the two poses can be used in sequence due to the position of the forward leg being common to both.
Ive been taught this pose by many Iyengar teachers (some senior level).
So nice to be able to post pics, thanks Yoga forums!
dear seekr…i would love to offer you some encouragement…but some people’s legs will never go into certain poses. some bones and joint shape will not let one do some poses.
i can twist myself into incredible pretzhel…students call me double-jointed…but everyone have their eyes wide open when i can not place my legs on the floor in bandha konasana. they just do not go there… i can ask a surgeon to shred my bone only:))
lotus pose your are trying to master is very dangerous pose for the knees…and other parts…