My back isn't straightening…

Hi Carly

Welcome to the forum! The answer is simple. It’s possibly not what you think. If you’re busy trying to keep your legs straight at all costs then this is one of hot and Bikram yoga’s CLASSIC and most prevalent problems. It’s also THE main cause of Bikram Backache (and is often dismissed by students and teachers saying the ‘yoga fixes everything’, either causing them to do more yoga in the hope it will disappear, causes them to avoid this pose or resign themselves to sore backs or hamstrings forever more).

Take a look here at this important information that relates to straightening your back in this pose.

Let me know how you go! 😉

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Super stuff Carly

Come back and tell me what it feels like in class (and after too) when you’ve done this in class! I would love to hear your response

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Hi Carly

Aha. Sorry to say it but doesn’t it seem absolutely mad that you would even say the “pose started making sense” in your own body and then somebody actually is there to tell you that you’re wrong.

Meanwhile it’s likely that you’re also told that you need to listen to your own body… while at the same time you’re being told to ignore what is actually happening, do something that you know feels wrong and do as they say.

Carly, I am here to tell you that if the pose makes sense to you the way it did today, then that is the way you must do it. There are physiological mechanisms in play here that are actually allowing you to find length in those tight hamstrings NOT by straightening your legs but by um… BENDING THEM!

You are unfortunately going to have to allow those ‘lock the knee’ commands in this pose to wash right over you. Then you’ll be honouring your body and the intention of the pose.

It can be very hard to ignore what your teacher tells you especially if they’re very insistent. However if you carry no charge and therefore authentically don’t react, there will be no resistance and you’ll be absolutely fine!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂