Correct form.

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beauxx
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June 11, 2008 at 8:14 am

Post count: 3

#1118

Hi Gabrielle,

1) In the second part of locust pose I find it very difficult to
keep both my legs together when I lift them up–if you do this posture with
your legs straight, toes/feet together and legs apart is this incorrect form?

2) Additionally, I have a +/- 20 degree bend in my lumbar spine–will this affect
my ability to keep my legs together or execute other postures more deeply?
If I am not mistaken I read somewhere that you have first hand knowledge of mild scoliosis.

In gratitude,

BL

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

June 14, 2008 at 8:37 am

Post count: 3048

#3247

Hello BL

Everybody and every body is different. For some when they squeeze their feet and ankles together the hips rotate their legs so that they ‘spin’ outward creating the space between the thighs. Can’t be helped. However you may notice that change may occur over the medium to long term as you become more open in the hips and more balanced in your muscle strength.

Robert wanted me to add that he experiences something quite similar. He finds it that it is impossible to lock out his legs and still keep the knees together. He notes similarly to me that with the clenching of the buttocks, the hips rotate and the knees rotate apart too.

Much more important than concerning yourself with the squeezing of the thighs or knees together (although it would be great if you can eventually manage that) is the condition of ABSOLUTELY and positively always focusing on locking out the legs no matter what. The lift may be more difficult but the leg, core and upper body strength you develop is incredible.

As for your lumbar spine: I am assuming you also have a scoliosis condition. Your condition may emanate from a number of areas, separately or together; leg length differences, hips structure, abnormalities of structure of legs, hips, spine; or even habitual longterm function that has affected development (for example I am positive that my habit of carrying my heavy high school bag over my left shoulder for many years contributed to my condition).

Typically abnormalities that cause asymmetrical expression of your body and going to have some effect on many of your poses. I have always found focusing first and foremost on the alignment of poses, plus trying for symmetry (say for example trying to lie down on the floor symmetrically to train my body how it feels to be correctly aligned) in all poses has been extremely beneficial. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will try to go to the same depth for 2 sides of a pose, just to ensure best alignment. I found that one side is always more challenging to align than the other. It does feel very empowering to be able to work so closely on it by using the mirror and making constant adjustments.

I am happy to help you nut out problems with other poses if you like. Just ask!!!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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