Sprained ankle making slighty pigeon-toed feet in this asana difficult!

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Becks
Participant

March 18, 2009 at 8:56 pm

Post count: 16

#1365

Hi Gabrielle

I have an old ankle injury (right ankle) which has plagued me since school/college days when I used to play netball and volleyball. The tendons under my right ankle bone are really sore sometimes after this asana because of having to position my feet slightly inwards. Afterwards during Trikonasna because of the pain of the last asana I really find it even more difficult!

Is it possible for me to position my feet differently or would that begin to affect my hips because of mis-alignment?

Thanks in advance for your advice! 🙂

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

March 20, 2009 at 1:53 am

Post count: 3048

#4454

Hi Becks

Did you know that you don’t need to point your toes inward? Have you tried keeping your feet parallel? Now the other thing that may be happening is that your legs are straight and your back is rounded. Can you tell me if the main focus of your studio is to straighten the legs in this pose, or do they talk more about a straight back? There is a huge difference between these approaches. I will wait for your response. I expect that you can make a change to your technique and find some ease and opening rather than pain and frustration.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Becks
Participant

March 20, 2009 at 11:00 pm

Post count: 16

#4460

Thanks Gabrielle!

Most of the time the teachers stress keeping the back straight (which I do) but I thought that the toes had to be pigeon toed for alignment purposes! I am so glad to hear that I can do something else now! :bug: I actually feel really silly for not knowing any better.

I have heard teachers say to keep the legs slightly bent; for those with very tight hamstrings. My hamstrings are very flexible and I dont have a problem bending from the hips at all but my poor ankle is often so uncomfortable! :down:

Namaste!

Becks

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

March 21, 2009 at 1:18 pm

Post count: 3048

#4463

Hi Becks

Even if you pull with bent legs, if your back is straight you should still feel a stretch. Experiment to see if this alleviates the ankle soreness. If it doesn’t, see if stepping your legs out less far has an effect. Don’t be concerned about how close your head is to the floor. This is a common area of focus that tends to cause many problems: your priority of focus is straight back, correct grip and determining whether your legs should be bent or straight. Getting head to floor is a bonus once you have achieved the more important aims of this pose.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Becks
Participant

March 21, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Post count: 16

#4465

Thanks again Gabrielle,

I will keep my feet parellel and see how that goes today. Do you think I should do the same with the outstreched leg in Trikonasna? I mean keep the foot straight? Sorry to be a bore! :red:

Namaste

Becks

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

March 22, 2009 at 5:53 am

Post count: 3048

#4471

Hi Becks

I think you should see what works better for you. I have a feeling that you will find that you are more sure footed with a small angle in the foot of the outstretched leg.

If your adjustments in the sep leg pose mean that your ankle no longer reaqcts in Triangle then you can experiment with foot angle. If you find that no matter what you do you have that ankle pain then come back for another idea! 😉

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Becks
Participant

March 22, 2009 at 7:13 pm

Post count: 16

#4476

Thanks as ever for your great advice Gabrielle! I guess that’s why so many injured people come to hot yoga – for a cure from all their aches and pains. I have so many! 🙂 Thanks to this site at least I can find out what I can do to help me stay inspired.

Namaste

Becks
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