Uneven strength and flexibility

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I’m wondering how to best work towards evenness in strength and flexibility in asanas?

In poses such as Janu Sirsasana, and almost all twists, I can go deeper on one side, and I am also stronger on one side of my body and have a much bigger natural turnout in one leg than the other.
Some of this “assymetry” most likely comes from not having been careful about ergonomics and bad postural habits, and some of it is from hyperflexibility.

Is it better to “hold back” on the stronger or more flexible side, and let the weaker or tighter side set the limits? Or should I just be very diligent and aware of what I’m doing and trust that the body can even itself out over time?

#2

Generally speaking (and “general” may or may not apply to you, the reader), going deeper on your more flexible side then less on your less flexible side actually fosters imbalance. It reinforces that which is already present. This of course assumes consistent duration on both sides.

Therefore, in order to move toward what you are asking you would play to the lesser side (not going farther or deeper on the more open side) AND work longer on the lesser side. Three breaths on the open side, 9-12 on the lesser.

Again, this is a generality and it would be best to engage this conversation with your teacher so that you can be guided personally (rather than impersonally). Being diligent and aware and trusting should always be part of the practice. However “hope and wait” isn’t a very profound protocol for change and I tend not to direct students to heed an inner teacher they’ve yet to cultivate.

Hope this is helpful.

gordon

#3

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;60772]Generally speaking (and “general” may or may not apply to you, the reader), going deeper on your more flexible side then less on your less flexible side actually fosters imbalance. It reinforces that which is already present. This of course assumes consistent duration on both sides.

Therefore, in order to move toward what you are asking you would play to the lesser side (not going farther or deeper on the more open side) AND work longer on the lesser side. Three breaths on the open side, 9-12 on the lesser.

Again, this is a generality and it would be best to engage this conversation with your teacher so that you can be guided personally (rather than impersonally). Being diligent and aware and trusting should always be part of the practice. However “hope and wait” isn’t a very profound protocol for change and I tend not to direct students to heed an inner teacher they’ve yet to cultivate.

Hope this is helpful.

gordon[/QUOTE]

It is helpful; the one teacher I will be able to study with for the coming few months couldn’t answer these questions.

#4

Better for that person to honestly say “I don’t know” then to fabricate an answer that is inauthentic and disingenuous thereby compromising their integrity

To clarify, the alignments of the poses are handled in the way I mention above. the action, not so much. So for Trikonasana (as an example) if your hand must be on a brick on the right but can come to the floor on the left, then both sides should be on a brick. The rotation IN the pose however should not be restrained. In your twisting it MAY be okay to go deeper on one side than on the other…but I would certainly stay longer in the more challenging side.

#5

interesting… thank you guys

#6

Yes. I am often uneven, but as a right handed person I favour one side over another in everyday stuff. Even driving my car - all main controls are on the right side (I’m now curious about the Brits?). A building I go to often has several stairs outside - sets if 6 with a riser x 8, and I am conscious to alternate how I approach the stairs so as to not step on each set of stairs with the same foot :slight_smile:

I suppose this tenancy is transferred to my practice.