Is it trying mysore self practice with injuries

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi Everyone

I have been practicing Iyengar for about 5 year on and off due to some injuries. Last week I tried mysore self practice for the first time and really enjoyed it plus I have to say that practicing at 6:00am was great.
The teacher taught me to do Surya namaskara A and B and I also did half of the standing poses.Strong workout but I spent the whole day smiling after that class!
However I check the first series chart and I can see that I will not be able to do many of the rest of the poses. Many of them because I have meniscus injury which hurts when I get the knee into full flexion and some others because I am not that flexible. What happens if you can not do the poses???

Next week I will ask the same question to the teacher but I would like to know somebody else’s opinion.

Is it worth giving it a go to mysore self practice ?

Thanks

#2

Hello,

What happens if you can not do the poses? The practice is not a magical spell that will fail if you miss some steps. The practice is practicing. Do what you can, care that knee, if it hurts draw back, don’t push your limits. You will find your path, never mind.
Nothing else could I tell you, I have few knowledge on Iyengar Yoga.

All the best.

#3

I assume you are refering to Ashtanga yoga according to Sri Pattabhi Jois? Traditional Mysore practice - under the guidance of a teacher - means that you will do the asanas to the extent that your body allows right now. Not all the asanas. Next time you come to practice you will do the same asanas again, plus maybe one or two more. And so on until you have reached your limit. When you reach your (temporary) limit you go to Mysore practice and do the asanas up to that point, until your teacher decides you can do more asana.
I have practiced Mysore self practice under a good teacher for three years, and I still haven’t come more than halfway through the primary series (mainly due to a problem with my sacro-iliac joint plus general crankiness and self pity on my behalf) . But I keep in mind that it takes time to un-learn as it does to learn.

#4

Yes, Mysore is Ashtanga and Aurora B knows her stuff. Under the Ashtanga method you will be given the next pose only when you are ready and it may take a long time. Don’t worry, what you see on the chart are probably the most advanced version of the posture. There are modifications of the more difficult ones and it’s all a process.
I hope you continue to enjoy the Ashtanga method, I practice it myself as well and there are many challenges but it’s very worth it!

#5

I would recommend you find another Yoga Style that doesn’t aggrevate your knee. Remember that the first rule in Yoga (yamas and niyamas) is AHIMSA or non-harming. Yoga is not about mastering a sequence of poses , but a journey into Self Mastery on all levels.
If you like flow, look into Tibetan Yantra Yoga, which is like Pattabhi Jois’ Ashtanga, having several “Series”, but they offer different and unique poses, and a lot more modifications making the practice more accessible to more people. Or if you like something physically challenging look for Aerial Yoga! Easy on the knees but really challenging for core and upper body.
Consider too that the Primary Series were originally taught to children, (with youthful knees and spines), when Krishnamacharya first designed it, Pattabhi Jois being a mere boy when he began to study with Krishnamacharya.

#6

Hi Kindle,

One must always rememember to not push yourself too hard when it comes to yoga (or any other practice) to avoid all kinds of injuries. I do enjoy the Ashtanga method the most but it took me a matter of months before I was ready execute the poses you have seen in the chart.

Just continue the practice and always remember your limits (especially you mentioned that you have an injury). Be assertive in putting that boundaries so the injury won’t get worse.