greenlam

Thanks for the reply! Here are the answers to the best of my ability:

>> Are you sitting with your back completely straight (vertical)?
I CAN FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT AS MY BODY WANTS TO TOPPLE OVER BACKWARDS AND MY KNEES HURT
>> Are your feet aligned with your hips (alongside them)? (Top of your feet on the floor?)
YES
>> Are your knees together? Or are they apart?
I HAVE TRIED BOTH – INSTRUCTOR SAID SHOULD BE TOGETHER
>> Where is your bottom at this stage? Is it hovering in the air, and how far above the floor or heels is it?
I WOULD SAY 2-3″above floor – I was told by instructor to keep feet alongside butt to allow bum to go to floor (IMO never going to happen); if I had my feet under my rear, I would be sitting on them, with heels pressing into the area where my thighs meet my butt and butt oozing onto feet, just so you can picture the proportion issue
>> Are you able to relax in this position?
NO, I try to sit without leaning on hands, but can only do it for short periods due to knees hurting – THAT IS WHY I GO BACK AND LEAN ON MY ARMS – otherwise I am hunched over forward periodically on hands trying to get butt lower (never has changed one iota over years of practice)
>> Or do have the need to put your hands on the floor for support or to stop discomfort?
YES, MY KNEES HURT- I KEEP KNEES ON THE GROUND, BUT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING PRIED APART FROM THE FORCE APPLIED BY THE LONG LEVER OF MY UPPER LEG – so I walk my arms back behind me and lift my chest/butt to get a stretch since that feels like I am at least doing something beneficial for my body

I am not sure what the purpose of this pose is – if it is to stretch the quadriceps, chest, front of arms, then going back makes sense.