TheHotYogaDoctor

Gabrielle,

I have recently gotten started back up to going to Bikram classes more regularly.  I have been trying to do a 30 or 60 day challenge, but my work is just not allowing that to happen.  I have decided to redefine my personal challenge to be that I will go to yoga every day that I CAN go, but to accept that I will likely not make it every day.  This change in perspective is making a world of difference in my peace of mind.

I digress though, the reason for my question is that I suddenly have a new ouchy that is causing me some trouble in Tree Pose, kind of in Triangle and in Janushirasana. I am having some pain at the very top of my inner thigh while in these poses.  At first I thought that it was my hip flexor, but it is a little more interior than that. The first time that I noticed this was a twinge when going into triangle. Now it doesn’t bother me much in triangle as long as I go into it slowly.  However, today I had enough pain while in tree pose and Janushirasana that I couldn’t drop the knee of the bent leg.  After class I found that it hurts quite a bit now to cross my ankle over my knee to put on shoes, etc.

What would you suggest that I do to ensure that this doesn’t get worse and, better yet, make it go away?

thanks!
Cindy

Hi Cindy

I apologize for the late reply! Lots of forum posts lately and not enough hours in the day. Not complaining mind you.

Will you tell me if you are still having the same issue still (over 2 weeks later)?

I can’t remember how you fill your days.  I remember you walk (or used to) in the mornings. Are you in a job where you have to sit all the time? It is possible that you have some tightness that has developed through a habitual position that could benefit from some out of class stretches?

I will await your response before hypothesizing further!

Namaste
Gabrielle

Hi Gabrielle,
No worries, I want you to have time to put together those wonderful tutorials!

Yes, I am still having the problem, but just in Tree Stand now.  It’s an odd issue because I don’t notice it at all until I try to do tree stand or if I try to sit in lotus position or try lift and cross my leg over to put my socks or shoes on.  Also,it’s almost like there’s a catch right there when I first go into position.  If I hold it long enough, it eventually gives way, drops into place and doesn’t really hurt any longer.  Weird. Another thing that I neglected to mention earlier is that my hip on that side hurts when I lift and cross my leg over as well.

I recently went to a hatha flow class and we did a five minute frog position.  That didn’t hurt my inner thigh at all—even though it was stretching.  I think that some stretching exercises might help, but am cautious about making the problem worse.

I do still walk in the mornings.  I also sit all of the time at work and I sit with my legs crossed (a bad habit I know.)

I greatly appreciate any suggestions that you might have!

Namaste
Cindy

Hi Cindy

I think your problem is really going to respond to stretching. I know this sounds crazy because we have shared similar problems before, but when I was writing my book I was sitting for long periods and not in the best fashion (I wasn’t at a proper desk). I had some terrible problems and yes, tree and other poses I had had no problems with before, were causing me pain. The problem with the hip sounds related. It’s amazing how these things creep up on you.

Anyway, as a result, I made sure that I didn’t cross my legs, I actually often sat (typing my manuscript) in bound angle pose or badokonasana with the soles of my feet together, and did stuff like thread the needle and other inner thigh stretches like pigeon (I know you know which ones I would recommend). I think you’ve just seized up there temporarily and it shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

Namaste
Gabrielle

Thank you, Gabrielle!  I will start some inner thigh stretches, stop crossing my legs all of the time (that’ll be challenging)and let you know how it goes.

Namaste,
Cindy