TheHotYogaDoctor

What if my arms are behind my head even?
In the first part of this posture, I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I have hyperextension in both of my elbows (from a high school cheerleading injury where I fell off the top of the pyramid during practise, nonetheless!), and in order to straighten my elbows and reach up, my arms end up behind my head, not just behind my ears.  The position feels great. In fact, it is one of my favourite postures to be in. But, I’ve never seen anybody in any class before with their arms so far back, so have always wondered if I’m doing what I should be doing.
I can post a pic or two, if that’d help.
Thanks
Jodi

jtiggywinkle - 04 July 2010 02:57 PM

What if my arms are behind my head even?
In the first part of this posture, I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I have hyperextension in both of my elbows (from a high school cheerleading injury where I fell off the top of the pyramid during practise, nonetheless!), and in order to straighten my elbows and reach up, my arms end up behind my head, not just behind my ears.  The position feels great. In fact, it is one of my favourite postures to be in. But, I’ve never seen anybody in any class before with their arms so far back, so have always wondered if I’m doing what I should be doing.
I can post a pic or two, if that’d help.
Thanks
Jodi

The instruction for the pose is actually “elbows locked, arms always TOUCHING WITH the ears.”  Not behind!  Before you go into the posture, you should stretch up to “touch the ceiling,” so your fingertips are pointing directly up to the ceiling when you start, and then you bend directly to the side.  You might want to have a teacher or friend watch you do it from the side to make sure you are bending in an absolutely straight line, no backbending (yet).

I can’t straighten my arms out if they’re touching the ears - my head’s in the way. If I didn’t have the hyperextension in my elbows, I can see how this would work.  I think the form is still good, and my line is straight. I will have a teacher check it out though.
Thanks

Hi Jodi

You can only do what you can do. Nobody’s body is in perfect proportion (alright - not many people’s bodies appear to be in perfect proportion when they’re doing yoga!) and the form of your arms may mean that you simply have to look a little different in the pose. If you’re not changing the mechanism of the pose then you’re fine. Just make sure those shoulders don’t climb up.

Namaste
Gabrielle