exact meaning of "legs together"

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martypit
Participant

October 24, 2008 at 12:42 am

Post count: 28

#1212

Hi Gabrielle,
I am very grateful for all the work you are doing, it’s all very useful, especially since I moved far away from a studio, and I can only practise at home.

My question: I was once told by a teacher that when I am standing doing pranayama, my legs should push against each other as if I am trying to close the gap between them. The standard Bikram dialogue doesn’t mention this, it only mentions locked thighs, gluteus, belly in etc…I wonder if I have misunderstood the explanation or if I actually have to push my legs together. And if that’s the case, I wonder if there is any risk involved in doing that.

Thank you

Martina

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

October 24, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Post count: 3048

#3607

Hi Martina

I am not comfortable with the ‘one size fits all’ approach to instruction. Every body is different. So for example if you have wide feet that make your feet triangular, or bunions, then when you stand with everything together there is the potential for your legs to end up turning out to some degree. This will affect what parts of the legs contact and how.

I much prefer to instruct to square hips and knees to the mirror, and also focus on feet being square on too. Your legs will in all likelihood touch but squeezing them together is not necessary. The squeezing of the legs is through knee locking and also through the glutes etc (whole lower body).

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

PS thank you for your kind words :cheese:

martypit
Participant

October 25, 2008 at 12:18 am

Post count: 28

#3609

That was very helpful. Thank you.

Just one more thing, as you’ve mentioned bunions.
When someone has bunions, if they keep their feet square to the mirror their heels might not touch. Is that ok anyway?

Martina

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

October 25, 2008 at 2:04 am

Post count: 3048

#3610

Hi Martina

Yes, I believe you are creating much better alignment by doing that. Have you seen my latest video regarding feet? It talks about how foot alignment and foot position affect your ability to create good and poor balance, structural alignment or posture. Take a look here: Great Posture from the Ground Up

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

martypit
Participant

October 25, 2008 at 10:37 pm

Post count: 28

#3612

Thank you for your fast reply.
I have seen all your videos and they’re really interesting. I hope you keep posting more.
This web site is such a great idea! Well done!

Martina
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