Move during postures?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello there!

My local gym offers only one class per week, she is a very good teacher and her classes are physically challenging (in a good way). I also practice Hatha Yoga at a very spiritual place, witch I enjoy a lot as it is very realxing for body and mind.

Here’s my question, My Hatha Yoga teacher always encourages his students to move during postures. When I moved during downdog in my gym class, my teacher advised me to not move during postures.

I would like to read about your opinion of this subject.

Thank you very much!

#2

Huh. Which teacher has more training?

I’ll sometimes move in a pose to feel where my muscles and bones are, make sure they’re where they are supposed to be. The activity brings my attention to kinesthesia (internal sensory information). You know, the way moving your head left to right might jog your eyesight into a better focus.
There is, of course, an opportunity to do myself a mischief here, if I’m not paying attention before I start. But that’s a yoga truism, so not too disconcerting.

#3

Hello Leanndra,

First we must understand that the only time the body is static is when the soul has left it (physical death) Otherwise it is always moving. However it is moving in degrees. Ergo it is also still in degrees.

Additionally, each teacher is different. When you mix your modalities not only do you get diversity you also can get confusion. That is not to say “only” study with one person or in one style. But I do think it’s relevant to find something that resonates with you and then have a level of commitment to it.

If you could say more about the moving that is encouraged I may be able to speak to that more directly. However, to say one teacher “encourages” moving doesn’t tell me much at all.

Both may be true for certain people, for certain reasons, at certain times.

#4

Namaste Leanndra,

When a beginner starts yoga with me I always encourages them to move their muscles and bodies in the asana in order to adjust and adapt the pose so that it feels most comfortable to them and I will also move through the class and help people to align and adjust their bodies. What is important for me is to remember that the body of each person is different from another. What is comfortable for me might not be comfortable for another etc. and by moving their muscles and bodies people start to feel their bodies again and learn to listen to their body.

I also feel strongly that most people today are so out of touch with their physical bodies (and that is why we see also such an array of injuries to the physical body in general) that one of the primary goals for me with beginners is to teach them to listen to their bodies again. This way I feel people avoid doing stupid things during yoga practice that will add to their existing injuries or even add more injury.

Later on in their practice I will ask them to find their spot in the asana and then to hold it and to be still in that asana and to focus inwardly on the asana and their bodies.

So, in my humble opinion perhaps enjoy the benefits of doing both, sometimes move and sometimes just hold it still.

#5

Each person is different and has a different way of teaching. With increased sensitivity in Yoga one needs to relate to the correct posture and feel the muscle. One becomes aware of the body and its demands.

#6

What do you mean by move during postures?

#7

Dear Pandara,

Thank you very much for your answere!

Namaste

#8

And thus you’ve chosen NOT to give us more information.

How puzzling. And yet so very, very clear.

Thank YOU!

#9

I am sorry if anyone feels offended by my last post. I have not given any more informations about this, because I simply don’t know how to explain it any different, as English is only my third language. I am very grateful to anyone who took the time and answered my question, but pandora seemed to understand my question the best.

Namaste !
Leanndra