Paschimottanasana - Q

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello,

I have been doing yoga for 4-5 months now, and have been able to do the abv pose & hold it for a minute or so, I fold from my pelvis, I can feel my body over my thighs and touch the knees with my head. But I cant go any further than my knees.

I roughly measured, the upper body from the hip(27 inches) & hip to knees
(19 inches). My upper body is atleast a good 8-10 inches taller but I still cant go beyond my knees.

My Q - is this normal ? How can I go further than my knees? Any tips are appreciated.

Thanks!

#2

When you get more flexible you should be able to put forehead between your knees and feets. Then you must do asanas pretty much everyday. How long it takes also depend on what kind of body you have, if you i.e. Force your body to go that extra it will become more stiffer again. Then you must continue for some time and then rest for some days. Also if you stretch front you must do ? counterpose to keep the balance and lastly only you can know how your body reacts

#3

Your question begets a question.

In doing the pose are your legs straight with the quadriceps engaged?
More to the point, when you come into the pose is your abdomen contacting your thighs, then your navel, then your diaphragm, then your sternum?

gordon

#4

Gordon, Yes my quads r engaged, my upper body is pressed into my thighs. I think I’m rounding/hunching my shoulder/neck/head a bit, no matter how much I try to ease up, I cant seem to do so, the neck/head cant seem to be relaxed much in the final pose.
I think If I ease that up I can move beyond my knees, atleast a bit further,

Any suggestions by you for that will be very much appreciated!!

Thanks!

#5

So i guess you dont do halasana?

#6

[QUOTE=fakeyogis;76373]So i guess you dont do halasana?[/QUOTE]

Ofcourse I do, I hold for atleast 4-5 mins.

#7

strange with the stiffness then, did you try to fold legs and touch knees on the ground? But be careful it should be done effortless.

Or maybe i misunderstood maybe you get stiff because you try to go further by force and thats why you get stiff neck.

#8

I was asking not whether the torso was in contact with the thighs, per se, but rather the progression of the contact which indicates where the forward bend is coming from.

When the head comes to the shins before the diaphragm then the fold is in the spine and not in the hips.

#9

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;76380]I was asking not whether the torso was in contact with the thighs, per se, but rather the progression of the contact which indicates where the forward bend is coming from.

When the head comes to the shins before the diaphragm then the fold is in the spine and not in the hips.[/QUOTE]

I’m sure that my head touches my legs only after my torso is pressed onto my thighs.

#10

sometimes if we stretch our hipbendermuscles its easier to do pashimottanasan.

try do this before and se if it feels different.

#11

Thx for ur suggestion, will try it!