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in reply to: What's more important? #3182
Hello K
I believe you should try to get your fingers as parallel as they can be – approaching your feet from behind.
If your body is well and truly squashed on the legs AND your legs are well BENT AND you still can’t get your hands in from behind, then introduce a space between the feet of a few inches to about hip width. And then, let me know if this helps you. You can lessen the space over time.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: cannot reach my feet #3180Hello K
It seems as though your teachers and I have a different approach. It boils down to doing what you feel is right. I can only tell you what has worked for me over the years.
One great advantage of grabbing under the knee for those who can’t grab the foot is that there is a real opportunity to create some ease in this strength-building part of the pose. There is a solid balance created and you can find great focus in locking the knee for the whole minute. Furthermore it relaxes and releases the muscles around the pelvis and hips while creating traction and space in the spine.
If you are not comfortable doing this in class, try it after class or even at home. And make sure you have no issues with Head to Knee (the floor version) because this is an excellent way to encourage you to learn how it should feel in the standing version! Let me know!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Cannot reach my heels in Rabbit Pose #3179Hi K, Hi Lee
If you can’t grab your heels with feet together, then grab them with feet apart. The way I see it is you really have no choice if you want to participate.
So, I would ask you to try to maintain your legs parallel to each other rather than allowing the ankle joint to bend. Pulling on your heels so that they pull outward so that the sides of the feet are on the floor will make this pose harder to get your outcome. in other words, feet at same distance apart as your knees.
Over time you will be able to move your legs back together. And Lee, your teacher is right. It is great to see how you can go without the modification from time to time…
Happy curling
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: post workout recovery yoga–when to do it?? #3178Hello Jill
Edge and you both have the right idea. You ask it in your question! Muscle recovery. They have to have the time to get that rest and regenerate.
Hey, if you haven’t already got the Complete At Home Stretch Guide, email me and I can send it to you. It would certainly give you something to do on those days where you just don’t want to stress your body with cardiovascular work and just want to ease into some great targeted stretches.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: What do you do when the tears come??? #3176Hello Peta
I changed my practice twice this week in an attempt to better able to help you with your practice at home.
1) I had a class in front of a mirror that is only 30cm or 12 inches wide!
2) Robert and I practiced in 30 degree (85F) temperature.Yikes!
So this is what I can report:
* With a narrow mirror I find it extremely difficult to see my whole body. You have no doubt an appreciation for that already.
* What I particularly found is that the ability to self-connect, look at myself in the mirror, and deepen my meditation to make to match the intensity and satisfaction of practice that I have with a large mirror, was much harder to capture.
* In the 30 degree room (85F) both of us remarked that although we felt we couldn’t go as deeply into the poses (and this is understandable) the class itself also lost for us a sense of intensity that we look forward to.So I would really suggest that you manage some way to get a wider expanse of mirrors. Probably 3-4 feet across if you can (about a meter).
As for positioning yourself:
* All standing poses start facing the mirror square on.
* Stand to the left of your mat to straddle it widely for the warrior poses (Standing Intense Stretch and Triangle) and allowing your feet to be just to each side of the mat in Standing Sep Leg Head to Knee.
* Lie down with your head to the mirror for your Savasanas. Sit-ups face the back wall.
* Then you start every other floor pose facing the mirror except for the final twist.Frankly at home these are just guidelines. For example you may have a very slippery floor that may or may not be carpeted, and stepping out to the side in your warrior poses either causes you to slip or you end up sweating all over the floor so that it is dangerous or your flooring starts to stink up your house. Neither of these are good outcomes. So I would recommend in these cases to turn side on to the mirror and step out along the mat.
The other way to handle the sweat or smell is to make sure you position your towel 90 degrees across the mat during the standing series for home hygiene. Lie it along your mat for the floor poses.
Peta, I am looking forward to hearing how you are going now…
thanks for the PM too…Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: saddle bag problem causing disfigured thigh #3174Hello Nancy
thank you for sending me your message through the PM system. I was able to get a better idea of your concern from the photo you sent me. Here is a snippet:
My case its not fat. Am very slim. May be its due to bone structure like that or some muscle. This problem is very common in Indian girls. I am putting the trikonasana pose which I found on net. Am not really doing it. I just came to know its helpful. Please suggest relevant yoga and whether his flab can be removed or not.
I was wondering where do you live? How often do you practice yoga? What style of yoga do you practice? It may be that you don’t practice regularly, if at all.
Yoga is not a gym-style practice where we go to work on our thighs or our abs. But rather, these things happen as a result of a balanced approach to yoga and life. Sure, lots of people start off because they want to improve their bodies, but frequent and regular practice ends up being about what changes they make to their lifestyles, their beliefs about themselves, and the way they feel.
I encourage you to find a system of yoga that you like to practice regularly. Just doing Trikonasana will not fix it. Approach the “problem” holistically rather than “to fix your thighs” because that will happen all by itself. I know because I used to have that same problem. No amount of me trying to “fix” it worked. The beliefs that support your problem could be much more about the way you “see” yourself and may even be about an inability to accept certain aspects of yourself.
Practicing yoga may actually help you CHANGE those beliefs – unconsciously. And as a result you will find your body changes in shape without you focusing on slimming your butt and thighs.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Heart Condition (Hot Yoga) #3164Hi
Thank you for your response. Please remember that when you are in the room there are some responsibilities that you can take for yourself that may go against what the teacher thinks could be right for you.
Here is a list of things to take note of:
you will no doubt be asked to fill in a medical waiver form and HOPEFULLY someone will ask you about your condition. However when you attend regular classes please tell every single teacher before class of your condition. Generally teachers (should but don’t) check on people’s medical histories and know about everyone. So just take the extra precaution to tell every new teacher and remind teachers you’ve had once or twice.
I still don’t know enough about your condition but here are some pointers: for the first time if you are sitting and watching that is great. For the next number of classes until you are ready, do the SECOND set only of the poses. That sounds easy, missing the first set, but it really is ‘easier’ mentally and from the point of view of a person new to the experience to simply join in the whole time. But if you go in with the intention of doing the second set then you will find more ease.
You can then graduate up to perhaps only doing the first set of the poses. These are more intense because they are generally held for a longer time (often double the time for the standing poses anyway).
You could even graduate it up using a mix of first and second set poses. And if you are being monitored and you are improving and you are monitoring your own state and you feel you can continue then please just always use your body’s own intelligence to carry you through (coupled with your medical and professional advice).
Feel free to use this forum or my PM or email. And please take care of yourself.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: saddle bag problem causing disfigured thigh #3162Hello Nancy
thanks so much for asking your question which obviously is very important to you. As you probably see your photo did not publish. You can definitely send it to me by clicking on my profile and either sending an email or a PM. Feel free.
There is so much going on in the body – physically, mentally and emotionally, consciously AND unconsciously – that it would be impossible to come to some conclusion based on your few heartfelt words.
I would need to understand so much more about your situation. If those details are difficult to air, use the PM or email.
I notice that you said you use Trikonasana. Would you mind telling me whether you practice a series of poses or just a select few? And if a whole series, which one and how often?
I know that my figure shaped dramatically when I did the Bikram series. And I have witnessed it happen in hundreds of others.
So we can either get very technical and down to the nitty gritty wallowing in the whys, hows and whats of your condition OR you can get yourself to Hot Yoga, at least 4 times per week (or even more often for FAST results) and become empowered, change your whole organism, maybe the way you think, what you believe, on an unconscious level to transform yourself.
I am making assumptions based on your info, so if this rings true then DO MORE HOT YOGA, if not, I can still help with some resources I can recommend to you for you to decide on.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: fused disks #3161Hi Susan
Would you by any chance know which vertebrae are fused? It would give me a sense of the seriousness of the problem. What conversation have you had with your student about her condition?
Mind you any fusion of the cervical spine is serious. As you have worked out it affects the way your student can move into any pose that has a chin tuck. In fact it is contraindicated. The reason is that it places way to much stress above and below the fusion (due to the heightened leverage forces).
Backbends don’t cause the same problem.
Your student already seems to know how to gauge her own depth in the pose – as one would definitely hope. I guess in the scheme of things, if you had a choice between tucking the chin which could cause great risk and losing a few compressive benefits of the organs in the neck by lessening the chin tuck…. well it is really no contest :cheese:
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Heart Condition (Hot Yoga) #3159Hello
The answer is really going to boil down to you! As it should.
I do want to point out several things:
Cardiomyopathy is a general term which means there is ‘something wrong with the heart’. In specifics, cardio is heart, myo is muscle (cardiomyo = heart) and pathy means pathology of. So in order for anyone but your doctor to give you advice it would be wrong to do that without much more information. I would never presume to take the place of your specialist.
You need to check inside of you for the answers and make your own decisions. If there is more information that you can give me it would be helpful. I cannot even give you any recommendations for your practice until I know more. Please understand that. Hey, if you like you can fill me in on the name of your condition and how it affects you on the private messaging system. I can’t guarantee anything but I will absolutely do my utmost to help.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: arms behind the calf muscles #3158Hello Jen
When you have less flexibility it is harder to get your fingers completely under your heels. You can definitely try putting your fingertips under there and see how you go. As long as:
1) your body is definitely squashed onto your legs (see above) so the mechanics of the pose can actually stretch the back side of your body safely. And
2) your elbows are as far back behind the legs as you can manage so that you can pull with your biceps.In this way you will build great strength. And you will gain much length in your muscles. The technique is totally independent of leg length or height. Done correctly, every BODY can get the benefits.
As you get more flexible you can slide your fingers further and further under your heels. Pulling at your ankles without fingers underneath changes the way your arms pull and is only recommended for very rare reasons (not the subject of this post!).
Looking forward to hearing how it all goes…
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: slipping and sliding feet #3155Hi Jill
It sounds like you are on your way. With so many things to pay attention to, you will find little distinctions reveal themselves to you each time! Before you know it you will be feeling invincible in Triangle.
Thanks for reporting back. :cheese:
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: pain during stretch #3152OMG I’m blushing! Thank you.
And you are oh so welcome!Your head to the floor is not as important as getting your face parallel to the floor. This works to extend your spine. That is your aim (Paschimottanasana!). Forehead to the floor (well, resting above it without pressure!) is a bonus, not the aim.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: slipping and sliding feet #3150Hello Jill and Jacquie
Triangle is an amazing pose. It does indeed highlight your inner thigh or adductor strength. There are things you can do. Because thankfully it is not just about how strong your legs are. Body geometry, how you set it up makes a great difference.
As Jacquie says, you can feel successful some days and others not. My experience is that it takes sometimes very small differences in set-up to have you feel strong, or even collapse or slide.
Foot position. Weighting the feet. Hip position. Arm positions. All of these are going to determine your ability to stay up and feeling strong.
The feet:
Feet will determine how your legs work. Bent leg shin is vertical. And if you can, thigh is parallel to floor. Heels parallel to mirror. And TURN the foot of your straight leg in a little to make it a bit pigeon-toed. This definitely helps you plant the outside of your foot while also allowing you to ground the big toe. This will also allow you to lock that leg. AND if you can, see if you can squeeze your butt cheek on that side (magic).
Weighting feet:
You are trying to weight them evenly. When you are sliding you will probably notice that the bent leg is taking most of the weight and the extended one is moving away. You could have your elbow BELOW your knee (wrong) which is making you fall toward the floor. Or your straight leg hip is starting to rise.
Arm position:
Most people bring the upper arm to the knee instead of the elbow. This may be one of the biggest mistakes if not the biggest. Try the point of the elbow at the knee. PUSH the knee back. Recommit the locking of the straight leg (and butt cheek if you can).
Hip positions:
A big and common mistake is to roll the straight leg hip down toward the floor. How can this be a hip opening exercise if you are closing them? Moreover, when you recommit to seating your hips down, lock out the leg (and butt) and push the knee back with the elbow you will feel your weight even out between your feet toward your center. And you feel a pleasing opening sensation where it is needed.I have not given you ALL the distinctions because I don’t have enough room here. AND I don’t want to bamboozle you.
First just do what you normally do (maybe out of class) and notice where the weight is. What you do with all these parts of the body. Then try the above adjustments.
And also take a look at the other Trikonasana post: What should I be trying to accomplish in Triangle pose?I would love to hear how you go and if we need to we can delve even deeper…
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: pain during stretch #3149Hello Jacquie
Thank you so much for being so thorough in your answer. I think your problem is a very common one and stems from the way that students are directed into the pose. I just wanted to be sure.
For a little bit of background: Paschimottanasana means Intense Stretching pose. What needs more stretching in a P pose? The back or the legs? The way the body is set up, anatomically and with its reflexes and mechanisms my answer to that query is unquestionably: the back.
We spend all our time in forward bends. So in Paschimottanasana I want my students to spend the time capitalizing on the little time they have to S T R E T C H out the back and not round it over.
If I were to give you an analogy it would be this. In Hands to Feet pose even the inflexible among us place the body on the legs, use bent arms to pull and still feel a FABULOUS stretch despite the fact that their legs are well bent.
Reciprocal inhibition is at play here, using the biceps muscles in the arms to pull on your feet. And although you may not realize it, you actually don’t have to try to straighten your legs. What you are trying to do is release and surrender: lift your hips up and relax the muscles that are not needed so you can create length in the spine and the legs. All you have to do is lift your hips and hey presto, when you are almost there you can consciously place some attention on locking out the legs. If you can’t feel some stretch in your legs (anyone out there?) then PLEASE tell me! You would certainly be the exception.
Now back to Standing Intense Stretch:
1) When you come forward, and you are at the floor, BEND the legs and slide the hands down the back of the calf muscles.
2) Try to get your fingers under and behind the heels, at an angle from behind.
3) If you can’t get any fingers under the heels then you may have stepped out TOO FAR.
4) Placing your hands under the arches at a 90 degree angle to the foot is bad news. And you are likely to cause problems in your shoulders, your neck and maybe even your legs.
5) Try to get at least one finger under the heels so that when you pull you can bend your elbows out toward the side and back wall!
6) Lift the shoulders away from the ears.
7) Pull with our biceps and lift your hips. Notice that you MUST pull with bent arms. There are very few people who can’t get in a position where the arms can pull when bent.
8) Don’t try to straighten your legs. Just relax the hips and pelvis and lift. Feel the stretch down the back of the legs.I realize that your teacher may be imploring you to straighten your legs. But resist. You have already done enough damage. And when you get the chance, after you have digested the above points again, please go back to the photos of Lauren in the link in Robert’s post. You could say that I wrote that one for you 😆 cos it has your name all over it!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: What do you do when the tears come??? #3145Thank you Peta!
I am blushing from your lovely compliments. :cheese: And so happy that you have inspired yourself to such depths…
What you need is a lot of what has been asked for in the survey. So that is good news because there is stuff I have to work on. I really want to do that for you and everyone. I will definitely keep you posted.
Peta, PM (private message) me because I may have something I can help you with.
Now for your home practiceIn order for me to help you I need to know the following things about your space:
What kind of surface are you practicing on? (carpet/tiles/timber/?)
How wide is your mirror?
Do you have 1 or 2 mats?
And just for curiosity: to what temperature can you heat your room?That is just housekeeping I know, but is relevant. Once I have your answers I can help you STREAMLINE your energies so that you effortlessly (well, practically) move from one position to another. Practicing at home, generally because space is more limited, can make the experience physically different – and sometimes we have to get creative.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: What do you do when the tears come??? #3141Hello Peta
Firstly I have to say WOW! What an incredible commitment to yourself. To undertake a 60 day challenge by yourself at home is, well… a real challenge.:cheese:
Allowing yourself to feel, without judgment, with plain and simple observation can be one of the hardest aspects of a yoga journey. Couple that with the use of the mirror and class can be really confronting and lots of ‘stuff’ can come up.
To answer one part of your question: when you came up from Triangle you were standing there in Savasana (or not!). The difficulty would be to look at yourself and deal with the intense emotions while maintaining your breathing. It would be ideal if you could do that (for the standing poses if you find yourself standing or doing a pose looking directly forward). To look away from yourself may make it a lot easier to deal with the confrontation but it may not help you to release it or work through it! Many times students have a cry in the floor poses. You just try to connect with yourself at some level and that may or not include looking in the mirror.
It seems that you don’t have anything other than the books to lead you through a class. This could indeed be making it more difficult for you. Normally at class, there is a momentum that takes care of these things. The movement of the class from one moment to the next allows you to make the observations and move on. This happens too because there are usually a number of yogis in a class so unless it is an emergency the class doesn’t actually stop.
People look after themselves, the teacher can compassionately remain detached but aware and allow the student to manage the intensity. If someone breaks down, support and compassion is usually silent and may only need a reminder to breathe. These events usually just run their own course.
The studio is a beautiful and allowing space where everyone is working on profound self-acceptance and love, and through that an acceptance of others. I think you can see that practicing at home you need to have that ability to create that by yourself, and for yourself.
So really, if you happen to have an audio class going, see what you can do to keep the class moving regardless of your ability to continue with that particular pose or set or side. Your experience will be different every time you practice so your mission will be to simply notice.
Let me offer you my support right now so that you feel that you can use this forum for whatever you need. There are some wonderful people who regularly post some amazing insights: I adore reading their words and I am sure there will be some who read your post who will be more than willing to share their stories and provide encouragement.
Embrace your feelings, let them go and enjoy being in the moment. With that your heart will open and soar with a new freedom.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: pain during stretch #3139Hello Jacquie
I am sorry your body is hurting during the yoga.
I wonder about your approach to this pose. In the studio that you go to are you asked to straighten your legs as a priority in this pose?
Or are you told to straighten your back as your most important task?
It would be very helpful to know what you are doing.
Please let me know anything specific that comes to mind.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: surgery – when to restart classes? #3134Hello!
If you have been doing yoga up until your surgery then chances are your healing has been fast-tracked! Getting back will probably help too.
What I suggest is waiting until any incisions are waterproof. That is, wait until you know that they are healed over enough not to be affected by moisture. Of course any tenderness in the breast area may make the belly down poses difficult. Well actually only Locust/Salabhasana and sometimes just lying on your tummy for Savasana. If you are feeling tender lying with your full body against the floor but can do everything else, then lie on the floor with your arms folded under your head and the pressure on your chest will be relieved. Other than that I am not sure what other reason would keep you away.
Do yoga!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Yoga Etiquette Question #3131Hello Firehorse and Barb
What you both say rings true. It can take up some of your headspace and distract you somewhat when you get an unscheduled touch. :bug:
Robert and I had a great discussion prompted by this thread. :cheese: Definitely when we start our yoga practice we are far more sensitive to our ‘space’ and location in the room. In fact new students often try to grow their personal space as much as possible. And everything is a distraction: movement, touch, the mention of their name, the instructions…
As you get more in tune with your practice and your required space it becomes easier to disregard those little distractions to your absolute benefit.
Still what you report has happened to us, and it IS annoying. There was definitely a culprit like that where we first practiced. It sure seemed disrespectful and almost defiantly claiming their space. This woman would squeeze into spaces that clearly encroached on the surrounding 3 or 4 people. What seems worse is the seeming movement toward the touch rather than making space.
For your own peace of mind I would nip it in the bud and signal or say something after the second or third touch suggesting they stay on this side, and you on that. The first course of action is to deal with the distraction and NOT move if you can help it. If it does come down to moving, remember it is YOUR practice. Do what you need to do. Don’t care one second what anyone else thinks – even the teacher. Don’t apologize. And at the same time don’t make moving a habit. 😆
In other words, be mindful, respectful of yourself and others and your own process.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Back pain and no use of ankle #3129Hi Ziporah
I just thought I would clarify a few things that I said to you above:
1) When I suggest to raise up on your toes (supporting yourself either sitting or with your hands while standing) I wasn’t saying to move your feet in circles (well not yet anyway). Try the simple up down movement pushing through your ankles.
2) This exercise is particularly fantastic for those with plantar fasciitis.
3) I mentioned the orthotics not because I thought you had used them but because they serve as a parallel example of how we can rely on a crutch to ‘support’ the body (and if used too long) how they can actually make the body weaker.
4) I forgot to mention that a very nice and extremely restorative pose for the ankles and knees (because it is likely while favoring your left leg you have caused some imbalances on the right side) is to sit kneeling on the floor, knees and feet and heels together body upright – maybe while watching TV or reading a book. Great to recreate some symmetry. Use whatever cushioning in and around the knees and ankles you need.
Will love to hear from you with your progress.
I will also be interested to hear if you can actually do those heel raises/ankle openers adequately with your brace on.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Back pain and no use of ankle #3126Hi everyone
Here is a selected quote from jerz280’s private emails to me… copied of course with permission:
I can walk on my ankle, it is just in a brace (aircast) to “stabalize” it before embarking on physical therapy. For years I have had problems with my right ankle spraining on a pretty regular basis (about once a year for a number of years now). Around the age of 21 I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in the same foot. That is when I started spraining it frequently I am now 32.
I went to the doctor after being in yoga class doing a sitting position where you hold the leg (kind of like holding a baby) and my ankle started to get this rolling sensation which I had been getting for a while when sitting in a cross legged position for too long.
The back pain is on same side as the ankle brace and it almost seems like a sciatic condition. It started about a week after the brace went on and I hadn’t been to my regular Saturday yoga class for two sessions. I can’t seem to find a comfortable way to sit, stand, or lean without feeling a bit more pain in the area. The pain is not very bad (at least not yet) but it extends down into my hamstring, especially when sitting. I just can’t seem to find a comfortable place to sit no matter what I do with my feet.
It is not as bad when standing, but there is a little soreness when walking around. I do not want surgery so this measure is the first to see if we can strengthen the joint. The doctor has allowed me to continue with water aerobics, and biking, but has told me to stay away from yoga because of the “weird” poses that can put stress on the ankle. (His words, not mine).
My saturday morning yoga class is full of sun salutations, downward dog and other common poses as it is a beginner class. I used to practice more often (and had less sprains then) but some major life changes caused me to stop exercising and practicing. I only began taking off the weight, getting back into shape and taking up yoga again in January of this year.
Here are some of my thoughts:
That pose you did in class cradling your foot is quite strong on the ankle – so I am not surprised it bothered you.
It is no wonder that your back hurts on the same side. There is no doubt in my mind that you (whether consciously or unconsciously) compensate for your weaker ankle by walking more heavily or relying on your left side to support you. A change from the ground level (in the way you use your feet) is going to affect your ankles(!) your knees, your hips and YOUR SPINE and your shoulders etc.
Fundamentally I have a problem with full time use of a brace. It bothers me because they cause the patient to rely on the brace as a crutch. When the brace is removed there is no support so the ankle is in fact weaker. Now I have no idea as to the exact instructions you have been given for brace use so feel free to enlighten me.
For example if you have pronated ankles then you would use an orthotic device in your shoe. If you use them all the time when you take out the orthotic the ankle collapses. What is really required is some work to stabilize and strengthen the ankle. This is what I envisage for you. And I plan to suggest some stuff below.
The good thing about the exercises below is that they are GREAT for plantar fasciitis. I have given them to several yoga students with excellent results.
I have written an reply to someone else asking about exercises for an ankle problem: Ankle injury, painful. What exercises and poses help?. There is a section right down the end of my post that recommends strengthening the ankles when sitting on the toilet or on a chair. Take a look at that please, and if it doesn’t make sense please ask for another explanation.
The other exercise I would recommend is standing next to a kitchen bench or table and totally supporting your weight with your hands on the bench. Raise up a little on your toes 10-20 times a few times a day. As you feel a little stronger, raise your heels even higher. Over a very short time you will be able to build very good strength. This is a controlled exercise so support yourself as much as you need to. You will be able to rely less and less on the bench (although use it all the time). As I said: combine this with the exercises in the other post. In time you may even be able to walk around just on your tip toes and feel safe.
What you want to do is strengthen your ankles. I too have sprained my ankle badly in the past (and who hasn’t?) and noticed how the same one gets and can stay weak. I continued to sprain the same one: the inflammation would stay for months to a year as I babied it. Then one day I decided to use the ‘counter intuitive’ approach and give my ankle some work to do (controlled).
So do your best to load both legs evenly. I am not saying to NOT use the brace. I cannot be the one to decide that.
You have noticed that I have not yet mentioned your back! Huhh? Because the way you are using your body seems to be the problem. But you do need some relief. I would be less inclined to do the vinyasa flow yoga for a little while. It just seems a little too harsh on your vulnerable ankle and although you can step up instead of jump through there are a lot of other movements that I would be discouraging AT THIS STAGE.
This post is getting very long, so please allow me to hear your response to the above and let me know how long you are supposed to wear this brace every day. In the meantime I will get back to you here with back specific content.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Back pain and no use of ankle #3125Hi y’all
I am currently responding to this issue on my email but hope to get back with more details very soon!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: 30 day challenge – no rest days #3124Hello BL
Such amazingly interesting thoughts to ponder!
You are right! Perhaps there is a possibility that something untoward could come from doing it. But I think that it would have to be coming from the wrong place. If alignment principles are strongly adhered to; if your connection in the mirror is meditative and not narcissistic; if the focus stays on ‘being your best’ rather than doing at any given moment then I am sure that you can only be doing good.
Achieving balance is part of our core intention. Being ‘addicted’ is different to making it a lifestyle choice. There is a different energy about addiction. I was talking to Robert about it last night. We spoke of those times (particularly at the beginning of practice) when students can feel guilty that they didn’t make it to class. Just like knowing that the days you feel least like going are the days that you should absolutely go, I think that if you have overwhelming guilt-ridden feelings that you should be there, then you should probably take a little time off to gain a clearer perspective on your (one’s) life.
This yoga is FANTASTIC because it gives you back so much more than you put in. But it is not your ‘life’. Doing it as many times as you manage (however many times per week that is) makes you so much more available to your other commitments in so many ways. As such I feel we get balance to prioritize and approach all our activities with equanimity and peace!
Thanks so much for sharing that. So important to ‘get’ that one methinks. 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: 30 day challenge – no rest days #3123Congratulations Josie :cheese:
You made it!
Funny thing: in upsetting your life balance temporarily you have paradoxically created more balance! Wonderful lessons learned about the body and mind. There is no going back.
Keep enjoying your journey
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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