Hi Suzuki,
Here’s a suggestion:-
You might want to try the [U]Pawanmuktasana Series 1[/U] and then working your way through series 2 & 3. The first series should open your hips and mobilise the joints of the legs by freeing energetic blockages particularly in the ankle,knee & hip* joints. ‘Pawanmukta’ means to release energy. It is a therapeutic programme available in Bihar school of yoga publication ‘[I]Asana,Pranayama,Mudra & Bhandha[/I]’.Alternatively find a teacher trained within the Satyananda(Bihar school) yoga tradition, an experienced therapist or one who is familiar with these Series.These are therapeutic asanas or subtle exercises and not to be underestimated if practiced dilligently and daily , with awareness and particularly with the breath, once some familiarity with the movements involved are gained.The trick here is a committed daily practice and any life-style changes needed ,committed to, if you want to tackle these issues.
They will re-train your muscles and should gradually help re-wire your nervous system too in the process,and as part and parcel of that.
Remember that bones are moved or held in place by muscles, which in turn are controlled by the brain- particularly the sensory-motor functions which when malfunctioning can hold muscles in abnormally high state of muscle tonus or muscle tension.Least these are conclusion i have drawn.Although the yogic paradigm will take it further and say that there are blockages of energy, stagnant in the subtle body that need cleaniing out- i.e the nadis.This subtle body-the nadis- affect the physical nervous system.
- I hope that does’nt sound too confusing!
If you start with the physical and energetic side of the body through Pawanmuktasana Series 1, then explore 2&3 this will eliminate energetic blockages in your anatomy. Physically you will start to move with greater ease and comfort.But daily practice is the key here. It may have taken a long time for you to get this way.
Most of these subtle excercises are all done lying down.You can do them 3 ways-
[ul]
[li][B]-[/B]simply with awareness[/li][li][B]- [/B]snychronising the movements with the breath( instructions are found in that book or consult a competent or experienced teacher or therapist familiar with the series); this makes them slower btw- but your brain moves more into the healing or alpha state- or the parasympathetic nervous system state.[/li][li][B]-[/B]with awareness of the movement of prana/energy(advanced:-you have to have cultivated an awarness of this mysterious phenomenon or at least believe in it)[/li][/ul]
I could’nt find your picture by the way.
You may find that yoga practice can also changes the character and personality of a person often by releasing deep-seated mental and emotional blocks, often subconscious often with meditation and particularly if an effective meditation techniques is used such as deep or silent mantra-based meditation. These work deep within the nervous system and can assist you making the necessary lifestyle and or dietary changes to help you lead a healing and yogic lifestyle. Gentle pranayama can help to train and calm the mind which you can insert in your sequence- some actually do a little breath awareness before bodily movement although the sequence suggested usually is after asana/gentle stretching/excercise. The cardinal rule in yoga is never force a stretch. This might only make muscles even tighter ( the ‘stretch’ or myotatic reflex) or even lead to injury.
If you are persitent and dilligent and take things gently and gradually,be patient, you will definitely fix this.And then you’ll get a whole host of benefits on top of that you may have never even dreamed of to boot.
Pawanmuktasana 1 Series should open your hips
Hope this helps.
I was doing asana classes at least 1-2 hrs per week, plus 15-20 minutes of sun salutations and the odd asana posture each morning, as well as 10 mins or so of gentle stretching just before bed.