Fixed firm vs saddle?

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bunni
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September 8, 2015 at 4:36 am

Post count: 60

#20468

I was wondering if anyone would comment on the different benefits/aims of saddle and fixed firm. They seem similar, but how related are they actually? They feel quite different to me. Saddle always seems to give me a great stretch through the hip flexors and quads, and a great sensation in the lower back. I love fixed firm too, but don’t feel anything stretch intensely with it. It is very comfortable for me and I fell like I could stay in it forever. Having said that, I don’t work too hard to bring my knees together in that pose (maybe I should try?)

I don’t particularly feel like fixed firm opens the front of my torso either, and feel confused when instructors say that it should. Even when I try to arch my back it just doesn’t feel very much like anything.

In both poses my ankles go totally white like paper and it feels great (but looks scary!) In fixed firm my feet are right beside my legs, straight and parallel to my legs, not winged out to the side, top of the feet on the floor, and my butt is also on the floor easily. Going in and out is easy/not painful, as is grabbing the elbows over the head. I start with my knees hips-width apart and keep them there throughout the posture. I am really careful with my knees in all poses and so I have just never pushed it. When I come out my knees are very stiff and it takes a few seconds to straighten my legs for savasana. How important is bringing the knees together? Are there other things to focus on, or should I just enjoy the pose passively?

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

September 15, 2015 at 10:05 am

Post count: 3048

#20492

Hi bunni

Just so I am completely clear, do you mind posting a link to the picture of the exact saddle pose you are talking about?

Bringing the knees in FF together definitely does increase the stretch and challenge for most. Why don’t you try positioning them in an inch closer to start with since the pose is fairly easy for you? You could progressively bring the knees in before you go back. The other thing to do is make sure that once your bottom is seated on the floor that it does not, even in the tiniest way, come up off the floor or readjust its position at all. If you readjust then you lose much of the magic of this pose. So actually I will suggest this: For the very next time you do the pose, do it exactly the same way with the legs in normal position hip-width apart and check in to what happens with your bottom. Check that it’s not repositioned. Normally people do this as they go back on their elbows. It’s game over if you do that. Then if you find everything is static, then try next time to bring knees in closer by an inch before you go back onto your elbows.

It’s also pretty regular for the knees to take a couple of seconds to feel ‘normal’ again.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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