Half Tortoise - Getting, Let Alone Keeping My Butt on My Heels Seems Near Impossible. Any suggestions?

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Author

Posts
Jane1
Participant

September 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm

Post count: 14

#1552

Hello:

The title of my post says it all. I’m trying to get to the point where I can REALLY do Half Tortoise correctly. It’s one of my favorite poses. Any suggestions?

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

September 4, 2009 at 2:51 pm

Post count: 3048

#5442

Hi Jane

The butt lifts for most students so you are really not alone! Try this: squeeze your knees together at the same time as activating your core on the way down.

I could also ask you: what’s happening in your upper body? How relaxed are your shoulders; is there tension there? What’s touching the floor first, the hands or the forehead?

Awaiting your reply

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Jane1
Participant

September 4, 2009 at 5:27 pm

Post count: 14

#5451

The forehead is touching first, Gabrielle, because I’m pushing so hard to make that the case. :shut: (I’m not shutting my eyes as I do so, however.) Yes, and the knees try to come unsqueezed.

How about once you’re down? Still I cannot close that space between the butt in the heels. I cannot FEEL, if that makes sense, what I must engage, in order to bring this about. I’ve been told it is core strength. And it is true: I have very little core strength.

Namaste,
Jane

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

September 6, 2009 at 7:47 am

Post count: 3048

#5462

Hi Jane

Perhaps start with some core activation techniques. Did you see my video on that? If you don’t know how to activate your core it is really worth acquainting or re-acquainting yourself with the techniques so that you can turn on those muscles when you need them. When you are bringing your head to the floor first is your neck as extended as it can be? Some people drop their chins in an effort to get the head to floor first.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

bonmar
Participant

September 9, 2009 at 1:04 am

Post count: 220

#5473

Love this pose.

lilitamz
Participant

April 5, 2011 at 1:02 pm

Post count: 36

#8525

I’ll try squeezing my knees to see if I can keep my butt down:)
Author

Posts