The road to EKA PADA RAJAKAPOTASANA

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Namaskar!

A question for kind Hatha Yogis:

For the past years I’ve been striving and working on this asana, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, but little or no advance has been done actually. I fear I’ve arrived to a “dead end”.

I can perform Kapotasana properly, my hips are pretty open, but looks like my lower trunk has to turn more flexible. I arrive to rise it to 90? to the floor, but no more.

I’ve been wondering about using a strap tied to the foot that should touch my head and pulling it until finally, some day, I’m able to grab my foot.

?Is that tricky? ?Is that asana? ?Is that allowed in traditional Hatha Yoga?

I remember a yogi at Risikesh (India) who told Iyengar Yoga was bullshit.

I’d love to listen to your opinions.

Thank you!

#2

Why did the yogi say Iyengar yoga was Bullshit ? when you say is it allowed do you mean using support ie strap ?
I have used a strap and it helped me , I sometimes put the raised leg shin against wall to help me and then put strap on foot .

#3

I think there comes a point in your life when you have to accept that there are certain asanas you will be able to do and certain asanas that you will never be able to do, and that it is ok.

For me personally it is important to also realise why do I want to achieve this asana or that asana. Is it really to benefit my body and further evolution or is it just my ego that want to achieve it?

Over the years I have learned to listen to my body and flow with the asanas it can do and I have realised that those asanas are the ones that really moves me forward, i.e spiritually.

#4

[QUOTE=Pandara;46465]I think there comes a point in your life when you have to accept that there are certain asanas you will be able to do and certain asanas that you will never be able to do, and that it is ok.

For me personally it is important to also realise why do I want to achieve this asana or that asana. Is it really to benefit my body and further evolution or is it just my ego that want to achieve it?

Over the years I have learned to listen to my body and flow with the asanas it can do and I have realised that those asanas are the ones that really moves me forward, i.e spiritually.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree 100%!!! We have to listen to our bodies!!! Perhaps you need to stop and take a break from this particular asana! And perhaps revisit it in the quick future!! This is what I do when I become obsessed with certain poses rather than the practice and what the practice is to do for me!! Gp back to your practice…go back to the true meaning of hatha yoga and then once you gain back the whole reason for your practice perhaps you’ll see why you cannot get into this particular pose!! Hope this helps you

#5

[quote=charliedharma;46460]Why did the yogi say Iyengar yoga was Bullshit ? when you say is it allowed do you mean using support ie strap ?
I have used a strap and it helped me , I sometimes put the raised leg shin against wall to help me and then put strap on foot .[/quote]

I did not ask him. But I suppose he referred to the props and tricks used in that system. Perhaps the path itself to achieving the asana was sadhana to him.

#6

That’s ok. But the issue that arises is: Some people can perform certain asanas and others don’t. Some people can perform almost all. And that certainly is due to their past actions so…

Why not giving the current coordinates a new course?

There is always a first time for everything in life.

#7

Hm Panoramix - perhaps you need to find out why the body is not releasing enough that you can obtain the asana in its full form?

I think Pandara has good point in that sometimes we are letting ego drive us instead of the needs of the body and spirit.

If your spirit is calling you to perform this asana, and you know it is not ego, then perhaps you need to explore why your body will not move all the way into it.

But always keep in mind that the ego is very tricky, and makes us sometimes think we are doing something for our own good, when truly it is only for our own satisfaction or accomplishment.

#8

Joanna, Pandara:

I think it’s not egoic but superegoic, it comes from my superego, and from my love for yoga as well.

But I shall bear in mind your words and make a deep introspection. Promised.

Thanks for your hint!

#9

You could direct aforementioned yogi , to light on yoga , where he might notice no props in the photographs. . He then could be directed to section on yama and niyama , particuarly satya
where he states there are four sins of speech , abuse , obscenity , dealing in falsehoods , calumny , telling of tales , and lastly ridiculing what others hold to be sacred. Rishikesh is not what it used to be , but its all good.
What I noticed in this pose was that I really needed to relax my dorsal ,heart centre ,the para spinal muscles , the trapezius , rather than trying too much in the pose
which I was doing. I cant achieve full pose by the way , but i find it a joyful asana to play with. If you look in Light on yoga you can see the postures that come before this one , light on yoga is carefully sequenced , so this may give some clue as to other postures that will help you to achieve this one , dwi pada viparita dandasana comes to mind. Good luck with your " right effort " enjoying the practise free from expectation of result .

these are just some thoughts and as always a skilled teacher will be able to see your body and .give you some ideas.
Om Shanti

#10

Well, I’ve just tried with a strap and the sensation was of “doing asana”. So i’ll continue in this way. My hands weren’t far from the risen foot neither. I’m hopeful.

charliedharma:

The mentioned yogi was a young man, perhaps he lacked maturity. I’m sure his intention was good. Yes, an skilled teacher would be a good choice, but they don’t seem to be abundant in my city. Thank you.

#11

Greetings all.

My take is as follows.
First, the term “yogi” is a sacred term and I personally use it with reserve and then with great reverence when I use it at all. But this is not on point here.

Pragmatically speaking, the action the OP is asking about mandates a great deal of opening in the hip flexors and quadriceps. If that is worked, if that is present, then it is possible to move forward in integrity. To bring the leg up when this is not the case would be a) short-sighted, b) careless, c) aggressive, d) harmful. Clearly none of these represent Yoga.

Can it be assisted with props? Certainly. Some practices form themselves to the student’s nature, minute-by-minute, day-by-day, year-by-year. Others force the human to fit the practice. How one can examine a practice that remains static and forces the nature of the human to bend to its will AND define that as “yoga” is well beyond my understanding.

The trap of “achievement” is that it pulls the student’s consciousness into the future (which obviously is also a pulling out of the present). This inhibits the depth of feeling and the oft over mentioned “being in the moment”.

You may one day deepen the pose, or you may one day find you can’t go as far as you do today. Being able to accept them both (with grace and sincerity) that is Yoga. The practice must blend tapas with santosha.

#12

[QUOTE=panoramix;46456]Namaskar!

A question for kind Hatha Yogis:

For the past years I’ve been striving and working on this asana, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, but little or no advance has been done actually. I fear I’ve arrived to a “dead end”.

I can perform Kapotasana properly, my hips are pretty open, but looks like my lower trunk has to turn more flexible. I arrive to rise it to 90? to the floor, but no more.

I’ve been wondering about using a strap tied to the foot that should touch my head and pulling it until finally, some day, I’m able to grab my foot.

?Is that tricky? ?Is that asana? ?Is that allowed in traditional Hatha Yoga?

I remember a yogi at Risikesh (India) who told Iyengar Yoga was bullshit.

I’d love to listen to your opinions.

Thank you![/QUOTE]

I was certified in a studio with that opinion and it was good because I could explore my limits. Then I moved to a studio that believed in props and I learned about straps, blankets, bolsters, and blocks and I explored my potential… I found a Scorpian Pose waiting to be reveled in me :smiley:

#13

Wise reply InnerAthlete. Thank you.

The sense of achievement is a necessary trap, yes.

Sury Nama: I appreciate your viewpoint, thanks.