legs and feet separated

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richardperry
Participant

February 10, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Post count: 2

#2266

I know i am supposed to engage my legs and keep my feet together in cobra and locust etc., but does separating the legs help reduce sciatic pain?

Andrea.*F.
Participant

February 19, 2012 at 5:26 am

Post count: 78

#9327

Hello Richard,

I hope you don’t mind if I respond to your post today! 🙂

Hmm…let me ask you a few questions first!
– Have you tried separating your legs in these poses? If yes, what did that feel like?
– Does it cause you pain or do you find it difficult to keep your legs together?

Do you have sciatica or you are inquiring on behalf of someone else?

Tell me a bit more about your experience!

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Namaste,

Andrea

richardperry
Participant

February 22, 2012 at 7:31 pm

Post count: 2

#9367

Yes. I have mild sciatica.I feel the pain in my butt and in my leg.Forward bending is the most uncomfortable. Sometimes, after class, I feel like i should have skipped the sit-up while I am healing. The disk needs to settle down and the sit up aggravates the situation. My core strength is excellent and my doctor feels that it sometimes gets me in deeper trouble because it supports my spine so well that I keep pushing forward with my routine. When i keep my feet and legs together I feel a little more aggravation in my butt muscle than when they are separated, but i think the postures require the strength I gather from squeezing them together.

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

March 11, 2012 at 1:17 pm

Post count: 3048

#9417

Hi Richard

Actually I believe that for you, you will get more out of it by having your legs apart especially if this means no sciatic pain. Legs together has the effect of bracing the legs and creates a little more ease because of the reliance one leg has on the other in lifting together (for Locust). The aim after all is not to get the legs as high as you can for any other purpose than getting the legs to work well and the core to engage and the back strength to create a wonderful backbend and lift in the legs.

If you want to create the bracing feeling then get yourself something like a soft yoga block or a towel and place that between the legs (thighs or lower legs) and squeeze together. Same effect for the legs but no sciatica.

Let me know how you go

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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