Okay, so I never thought I'd say this, but.....dropping back is fun and feels lovely.
BUT< how the devil do you stand back up? :)
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My journey with ashtanga yoga.
About Me
- Elaina
- TX, United States
- I'm just completed my PhD in neuroscience. I've missed asana greatly as I have focused more on incorporating my other limbs into everyday life. I'm ready to get going again, and will post here often about my journey. I may write a little about my post-doctoral research in the department of Neurology at UNC - Chapel Hill. Also, in my spare time I edit scientific articles for American Journal Experts, a firm that performs journal editing for researchers around the globe.
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11 comments:
Say hi to Sally and Russell for me!
On standing up: Probably there is a right way, and maybe I'm wrong, but here's how I got it.
In your last wheel, rock back and forth on your hands and feet. Every time you exhale, take your chest toward you hands, and everytime you inhale, take your hips forward past your heels. This gives you momentum, it helps you learn to move on the breath and it gets you flexible where you need to be. I'd start there.
Once you feel really mobile there (and it might take some time), you are ready to stand up.
On your 5th exhale the chest is away from your feet, you are rocking your weight into your hands, and as you inhale, you rock forward and stand up.
I was really obsessed with trying to do it with my feet parallel, but sometimes you should just stand up.
DON'T come up one hand at a time. Trust me, this is horrible for your back.
You have to get your hips forward but also use your thighs. Its all about the bandhas!
Hope that helps. You should ask Russell. He's really good at explaining back bends.
Your explanation helped me, too. Thanks
Hello, I wanted to add that as you rock your hips forward, you need to mindfully continue to inhale or you WILL fall back to your hands. Or worse, you'll fall onto your head! Elise's instructions are correct. But I struggled with that for a year until my teacher noticed that I held my breath as my hands left the floor.
Think of your heart center as a helium balloon. It won't rise unless its filled with helium. The first time I mindfully completed the inhalation was the first time I managed to stand up unassisted.
Good luck,
Darren
Elise's instructions are correct. But i wanted to add that you MUST continue to mindfully inhale as you come up. It is so easy to hold your breath once your hands leave the floor. I struggled with this for a year before my teacher noticed that I held my breath during the stand up.
Think of your heart center as a helium balloon. It won't rise unless you fill it up.
good luck,
Darren
very good point. if you stop your breathing, your body will turn into a stiff board. you'll pause in mid-air, and then come crashing down. you've got to ride your breath like a wave, man. totally!
Thank you Darren, these are the little tricks I need now.
thank you all for the help on coming back to standing, something i have been working on for, i hate to admit, years.
cheers, arturo
Arturo, did these tips make it happen for you?
I would say don't think about it too much and really fire-up those legs. Rocking indeed helps, as elise stated, and try not to get too frustrated. It took me months before I came up to standing. You might also try pushing off your hands equally when you come up.
Good luck!
Happy Practicing
Thank you, guys, for your wonderful tips! I applied them and voi-la - I stood up! I am not completely there yet, but it is the first step and it made me very happy. Thanks again!
PS- Once you can come and down, then you look at your feet and realize they are not parallel and that you've really got to learn to use your thighs...Have fun!
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