Questions on poses - specifically forward bend (uttansana?)

Hi guys-

I am new to Yoga and just started trying to teach it to myself via a Yoga Zone book and DVD. Unfortunately, this is the only way I can as there seem to be very few yoga classes in this town, and none of those I can afford.

Anyways, I am working on doing the Sun Breath sequence, which is one that Yoga Zone recommands beginners start with. I am doing pretty well with it; however, I do have a question concerning the forward bend pose in it. I’m not very flexible, but I can usually manage to at least touch the floor with my knees slightly bent. This is when I do the pose at night. In the morning, tho, I can barely bend so far as to touch my knees! If I hold in the pose I will sink back into it, but that initial lack of flexibily makes me wonder. Is it normal to tighten up so much during the night?

Also, my breathing is going well through most of the sequence, but as soon as I bend into uttansana my nose clogs up completely and I am forced to breath through my mouth. What is causing this? It happens every single time I do it.

Thanks!
-dave

Dave,

There is nothing like a yoga instructor who can see your body and help you to direct your attention while learning to practice yoga. You might check with the local Parks board, or Y, as there are frequently inexpensive yoga classes available through them.

As for your questions… Yes, it is very normal for the ham strings to tighten over night. It will naturally be more difficult to reach your toes just upon rising, but very valuable to get the body stretched out and the blood flowing for the day’s activities. They will eventually find more length, but it will take time. Practicing with knees bent in standing and seated forward fold is appropriate so that you do not strain the lower back.

Clogging of your nose would be an indication of sinus congestion. Do you have an allergy or cold? Practice of Jala Neti (water cleanse of nasal passages) is very helpful to remove excess congestion. The breath is the key to yoga practice. I would modify the posture so that the breath can remain free rather than modifying the breath to attain the posture.

Namaste,
Chandra

Chandra-

No cold or allergies (that I know of). My sinuses have always been troublesome. Until I was 10 or so, I couldn’t breath out of my nose at all, and since then I have had a constant pre-nasal drip and it is not unusual to go weeks at a time with one nostril or the other clogged up. Doctors have never been able to tell me why or fix it, and tho I keep meaning to go to an alternative doctor (acrupuncture, ayurvedic, traditional chinese medicine, whatever) I have learned to live with it more or less.

I’m curious about this Jala Neti. Can you tell me more?

-dave

Dave,

Please do a search of this site, using “Jala Neti” as the search topic. You will find several posts which may interest you. Basically, it involves the use of a special pot to cleanse the nasal and sinus passages for the clear flow of the breath. It is a yogic cleansing practice. The breath is related to the flow of life energy, prana in Yoga, Qi in Chinese medicine. Yoga and Ayurveda are branches of the system of wellness developed in ancient India. You can easily invest in a neti pot and see if it helps to clear your chronic condition. An Ayurvedic specialist may also recommend changes to diet, herbs, or breathing exercizes to help you to restore balance to the breath.

I did a quick search on the internet and found this site:

http://www.bytheplanet.com/Products/Yoga/neti/Netipot.htm

which gives good background info on neti cleanse, and also has on line sales of the pots. There are several other sources readily available online. Hope this is helpful, and wishing you Happy Breath!!

Namaste,
Chandra

You will stiffen up a bit at night especially in your first few months.
Epsom salt bathes really help a lot. The Magnesium draws lactic acid out of the muscles. I speak this from experience not just cause my doctor/teacher says. Also these are some basics anyone stretching should know.

One of the key elements of being flexible is to stretch warm. Never try to stretch cold. Though the body is always trying to maintain 98.6 degrees. 98.6 degrees is the bodies core temperature. Outer muscles and extremities are often much colder. That is why the doctor puts the thermometer inside your mouth. Well hopefully in your mouth only… :wink: Muscle, just like steel or glass, or any matter expands easier with heat.

In relation to sports of any kind flexibility is essential, so that if you fall off of your mountain bike at high speed your body can go into very flexible positions. If you are flexible, instead of tearing ligaments, muscle, or fascia your body will flex first. Does that mean you will never injure yourself? No, however you can decrease your chances dramatically by stretching. When we stretch it is important to understand that our main focus of stretch is not on ligament or tendon. The stretch?s focus is on the muscle and fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds muscles and allows them to move freely over each other. Muscle and fascia can stretch up to 150 percent of its volume. Tendon only stretches about 4 percent of its volume.

Tendon attaches muscle to bone. Ligament is a bone-to-bone attachment and should not be stretched extensively. Ligament tissue is supposed to be strong. Like the wooden bar in a ballet class, which dancers use to stretch on. Would one try to make that stabilizer bar extremely flexible? No, it would not be able to support the weight of a dancer stretching on it. The bar should be a little flexible but not too much.

There is strength in yielding, as the Taoists would say. We know this all too well here in California, the earthquake capital of the world. Here buildings are built to flex and that prevents damage.

I recommend a 15-minute warm up, then stretching. In Yoga we warm up with about 7 sun salutations, then begin some mild stretching.

One of the key ways to know if you are stretching the wrong area is that your body will give a trigger pain. Typically this feels like a sharp electrical sensation.

So some soreness is normal, hot pains are not so good. Try a hot shower before your next practice. YOu may tighten up less next week.