The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › The Hot Yoga Poses › Salabhasana › locust
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My arms are a bit crooked…so when going into locust with my palms flat my hips on my forearms hurts like it would if you hyperextended your other joints like knees. I have been practising for about 8 years…I am working on my arms and shoulders but it has taken years to get where I am so far…any suggestions?
Hi Heidi
Can you please tell me what you are aiming for in your arms and shoulders? It will help me understand exactly what you’re doing. Include as much detail as you like or can. I want to make sure we’re on the same page. 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂OK regarding locust…my arms will not completely straighten so when i am on my belly with my plams down and under my hips, my elbow joints really hurt even though my shoulders do rest on the floor…I have a orthopedic massage person that has told me that my chest muscles are short (which my contribute to my odd arms. While on my back with arms by my side, my wrists must bend in order to lay my arms down 🙁 weird I know.
Anyway it has gotten better over the last 8 years but will likely need lots more work…
Thanks for your help.
HeidiHi Heidi
Can you tell me what your shoulders are doing? Can you explain if they are lifted because of large breasts? If you have tight chest muscles then often the shoulders move toward the midline and either arms or arms and shoulders contact the floor. Maybe when you do that your body has to lift in order make room for your arms.
I hope you don’t mind but I am really trying to picture what your situation is. Let’s go down this path a little further. If I can’t ‘get’ it then we can consider you getting me a pic!
It’s not entirely necessary (or it’s not top priority) to have arms straight. It’s MORE important to try to get shoulders, arms, wrists and hands contacting the floor AND chest too (area between shoulders). Does that give you any further ideas as to how to explain what’s going on for you?
As an aside: Wondering your orthopedic massage person says you have odd arms, or if it’s just you! 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I am the one who calls my arms odd…with my arms up they are not straight either. Fortunately for my yoga, but not so great for my husband (kidding) I am not large breasted, 5’7” 120ish, large boned, mild lumbar scoliosis (which yoga helps) I was just trying the pose so I could describe it…the problem starts with getting the arms midline…when standing attempting the same arm position for locust, elbows facing belly etc…my forarms and hands come forward, which doesn’t hurt while you are standing, but while lying on them feels like they are hyperextended (which they are not)and the triceps feel like they will break…In the actually pose, inaddition to the elbow disomfort, my outer upper arms at the shoulder feel very strained (and this is before I even try to lift my legs!
The reason I think it is shoulders: lying on stomach with head to one side, my shoulders do not touch the floor (which I never thought odd until my first yoga class)
The manual is so helpful too! I really appreciate your input. I can always take my picture doing locust and download it!
HeidiHi Heidi
So, when you look at page 217, those 2 pics of me down the bottom left, do you look like one of those photos?
I would like you to focus on rolling your shoulders out and blades down and back and aiming for inside of upper arms in contact with the floor instead of thinking about your forearms coming toward the midline. Let the arms go where they are comfortable, with the aim of pushing your chest and heart into the floor. Don’t be hell bent of getting your arms together (just now anyway).
Try that and report back 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I have the weird permanently crooked arms as well. I am 43 and from birth my arms (and legs) do not straighten fully. I have been to many doctors who all say it is rare and may or may not be corrected by a series of surgeries. I was the kid who could never do cartwheels and was told I could never be a gymnast or ballerina because of this.
I have had teachers actually not believe me and they have asked to try to force my arm straight. Doesn’t work.
I also have large breasts so I encounter the same issues in full locust.
Please help – I can send photos if you wish.
PS when the doctors told me that yoga would not help, I chose to sign up anyway. When my local Bikram shop was negative about my arms I joined Sunstone Yoga, a hot yoga franchise in the Dallas area and they have been more supportive, but do not have experience in this type of anatomical issue. I will not give up trying! I feel hot yoga can help heal mind, body and spirit.
Hi Angela
Have you tried just moving your arms to a point where they don’t hurt? You can experiment with the distance apart and move them (back) in as your arms open up (if indeed that is possible for you). You may never get them comfortable in so-called ideal position. But then you yourself consider your arms to be a little out of the ordinary.
Your arms are the way they are. You may see some changes over time in them, but I certainly encourage you to allow them to help you. Notice changes, don’t put yourself through pain, make changes where necessary… work with what you’ve got!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I am learning to accept my limitations but at the same time I keep on trying, believing if I keep trying microscopic gains may be happening. I will continue to work towards finding that “sweet spot” without excessive pain or stiffening and picturing progress in my head 🙂 Thanks!
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