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in reply to: Difficulty rounding and getting forhead to knee #7559
Hi Eileen
It seems your body has gone through some great changes.
May I suggest you go and check out the pose mechanisms for the following poses:
>> Standing Separate Leg Intense Stretch (you’ll find frequent reference to an article called Opening Up Your Hamstrings With Hot Yoga which although you think may just open your hamstrings it’s about opening your back as well – they’re connected! 😉 )
>> Janushirasana
>> Paschimottanasana
>> Standing Sep Leg Head to KneeGravity poses are helpful but they are not nearly as effective as active stretching with the CORRECT technique. There are very basic errors people make with all of the above poses that if corrected will be sufficient for you to progress.
How’s your rabbit? Does it feel good or do you not get that one yet?
When you’ve looked at all of those and you can come up with specifics about the way you’re doing the pose then we can break that down further. For the moment, I am sure that you will discover some gems.
Of course, there are full details with photos in my manual (sounds like a plug but it’s worth mentioning) and there are specific Pose Tutorials which delve right down into the finest details of most of the poses at the Hot Yoga Doctor Store. It really depends on how much you are inspired to know.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Hot Yoga after Tooth Extraction? #7552Hi KD
Everybody grinds their teeth a little at least, because it’s normal. Over-grinding can affect the health of individual teeth.
However it seems you already recognize you have an issue with that having bought a night guard!
I know dentistry is expensive and I know a chunk a plastic is a horrible thing to have in your mouth, but investigate the price of a dentist-made occlusal splint. The custom-made ones are infinitely more elegant in design and they can be very small and discreet made of clear plastic.
Here’s the good news: There is a science to adjusting these babies and when the contact points are just right you will find it extremely comfortable AND it will help your stress levels enormously. That and the yoga could spell the end of your destructive habit. I know some people love their splints! As I always say “the only time your teeth should touch is when you’re eating!”
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Robyn
The single set class is actually about 60 minutes long. That is one of the options on my DVD. And we do sell a popular 90 minute version of a full class. Would that be interesting to you if I can engineer an mp3 of the single set class for you?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Hot Yoga after Tooth Extraction? #7548Hi KD
That’s good news. Are you a clencher and grinder generally? Or is it just during your relaxed yoga classes? 😆
I would be interested to know.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Flat footed and knock kneed #7546Hi Lisa
It really doesn’t matter if your back doesn’t come up as high as your partner’s. Sometimes it can feel as though you’re just about lying on your legs. The key is in the intention to arch the spine and lift the chest up.
Yes, there is hope for you! 😆
I would for the moment try the holistic approach of balancing what you can do with your back with the ability to keep your legs and feet aligned. At the moment you would probably be finding that if you switch too much of your focus to lifting your chest that your feet start to splay out and your knees come in and then a whole raft of issues occur. Lift your arches, play with your hips and knees to align everything and work that with continual micro adjustment.
It’s hard! I know. Just be patient! You said it not me 😛
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Help Achilles Enthesopathy! #7545Hi Mindy
In most cases conditions centering around the knee like genu recurvatum respond very well to working the muscles into balance. What advice have you received concerning finding balance in your mid region? What exercises if any have you been given to address the selective strength and weakness on the front and back sides of your body which is reflected in your legs?
How do you feel in your balancing poses?
And as for your heel spur: Just to clarify is it on the ‘corner’ or your heel or the back of the heel? Have you got any trouble in standing poses? Or in any out of yoga activity?
There are some neat calf stretches you can do for sure. The classic one is Downward Dog. What have you tried
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Web fingers and shoulder on ground. #7544Hi Pamela
Best thing (sorry for the delay) is to keep the shoulder on the floor! You know what might be called for her is a little hand towel – NOT FOR THE GRIP but to lasso your knee so that you can pull with your biceps.
You’ll get more leverage and make more progress faster opening up your body!
Let me know how you go!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Hot Yoga after Tooth Extraction? #7541Hi Ladies
Usually the danger time for problems with dry sockets is within the first 24 hours. You know, when you’re not allowed to swish water around and rinse out your mouth!!!
It’s probably OK to go back. You can inspect your own mouth to see if you can get an idea of the healing of the socket. If you have any doubts then simply don’t go to yoga.
The pain is obviously of concern. But perhaps the extraction was not an easy one and there is some bruising in the area. If that pain is bad enough to wake you up or is not being extinguished with painkillers then see your dentist!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Hyperventilating #7536Hi Pamela
You may indeed be trying too hard. Try just letting little bits of air move in and out. And focus on your belly. It could be that you’re trying to maximize movement of air out of your mouth and throat. Could that be right? Up the intensity over time with your increased skill…
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Mat Placement #7535Hi Pamela
It doesn’t matter what your ‘story’ is about where you choose to practice and why. What matters is your own mindfulness. If you are bothered there are ways to move either laterally on your mat. Or indeed, take the time to simply make a request to your neighbor to move their mat. In most cases even requesting that they stand say on the left of their mat while you stand say, on the right is sufficient to allow yourselves to have eye contact in the mirror.
It’s quite amusing that people feel compelled to stand bang in the middle of the mat. Make the request for mindfulness and make whatever small adjustments and then let it go. If it happens a lot then make a request to the studio teachers to invite people be mindful of their impact on others.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Help Achilles Enthesopathy! #7534Hi Mindy
Just giving you a heads up. I was about to answer your question but I plead tired!!! So I will come back. I have seen you!!!
Amy has given you a good idea. Have you tried a ball? There are wonderful little stippled physio balls that are perfect for massaging your calves and releasing soft tissue in your feet too!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: adjustments in spine strengthening series #7533Hi Kathryn
It will certainly help you (and me) to know more about her condition. Ask her to come to the forum or ask her some questions about her limitations in yoga and how she feels in certain poses. Ask her what her limitations are and what causes pain or relief of the issue in and out of class, in regular life and so on!!!
To clarify; the poses she finds painful are just the 4 belly down poses? Or are there more?
Let’s get some more information, or have your student come here…
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Calf cramps during floor bow #7532Hi Brenda
Will you try something for me? Just hold a little higher on your feet above the arch and below the toes at the ball of the foot. Completely relax those calves, relax those toes, and see if you can drive the movement from the thighs upward and the feet backward…
Let me know how that goes.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Help with arm positioning #7530Hi Marilyn
Don’t be concerned at this time about having your ‘baby fingers touching’. If it is excruciating then you adjust your arms.
Move them in or out but keep them symmetrically placed.
Come back and tell us if you’ve tried doing that and if it helps you at all.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Brenda
You are so close yet so far!!!
If you could imagine you are ‘hanging off your heels’ then you can appreciate that your arms are NOT locked out, AND they are definitely NOT bent. They can’t be. They are simply in traction.
Fiddle around with the distance between your head and knees but keep the chin tucked, with the intention to get those arms long and stretched out. Then you should be able to push your lower legs into the floor while still being relaxed.
When you get it, it will be like a big bright light turning on and then that will be it! Until then, it will be a conundrum.
Come back tomorrow and tell me if that made it clearer. Other than that I have an opening in my schedule on Sunday for a private lesson! 😆 Just kidding. You’re almost there.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Pat
That is truly a terrible experience. You must be in so much pain that you can’t talk. I once had spasm in a spinal muscle that reminds me of the kind of thing you’re going through. So I am really feeling for you.
If you don’t have ANY relief with your next appointment, nothing personal, but go find someone else. You may need someone to think differently about what’s going on.
It could indeed be a spasm. I can’t say.
As for back bends. You are finding it excruciating to walk and to stand so try lying down on your stomach instead. You can try Cobra pose. You can support your body with your hands and that can be a welcome relief for you to lean on them when your body starts to tense up (from fear and or pain).
Here are some Photos Of Cobra Pose.
Generally in this pose the legs are strong and the butt squeezed. I would suggest seeing if you feel better with it squeezed or relaxed. Experiment with the depth of your backbend using NO help with the hands, a little and a lot.
For relief: Have you tried child’s pose (knees apart, toes together, arms out in front, face down)?
I am going to send you a PM to give you a little more info… with some specific instructions!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Thess
If you can’t heat the room then you’re doing the right thing by warming up. Have you tried greater clothes coverage? Longer tops even long sleeves (which I personally don’t enjoy) and long pants (which I do).
I have heard of people exercising in all sorts of suits (there’s a reference somewhere on the website!).
I personally work up a lot of body heat by doing some push ups (either separately or as part of a sun salutation or 2).
You could drink a warm to hot drink rather than a cold drink. It wouldn’t make a big difference but it’s something. 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Kim
Your situation is odd, as you know! 😉 Normally cramping happens repeatedly with some kind of repeated movement. For example when someone points their toes they could get a calf cramp. Is there any pattern at all to your cramping?
It’s great you are finding some improvement!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Thess
Are you simply asking if it’s OK to do the yoga without the heat? Because of course it is. It just feels different and somehow more satisfying when you have the alchemy of the heat and the sweat. But if you apply the principles of yoga, presence and awareness you will get many benefits.
There are many other posts on the forum which cover this very topic. See what others had to say here in posts about ‘The Heat’!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Calf cramps during floor bow #7503Hi Brenda
Thanks Cyberry
Now Brenda, it really would be worth knowing exactly where you hold your feet. Is it around the toes or opposite the arch or opposite the heels at the ankle, or maybe you hold even closer to the ankle near the shin. I know it’s probably not the latter but I do have to ask!
The expectation can be playing a part and also your electrolyte balance could be too!
So please give what I’ve mentioned some thought and get back to us!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Olga
It’s not necessary to skip class completely. Go back when you want. BUT, don’t take all the weight on your left leg. On single balancing poses start by locking the left leg and lifting the right heel up off the ground. Keep your hips aligned, work on keeping your left ankle upright and with the extra support you will be able to build the strength back.
It’s a self-regulating position because if it’s difficult to balance and your ankle is giving way, all that will happen is your right heel will drop to the floor. And you will be able to add or take away support as required. Pretty soon you will have your right foot hovering above the floor. Lift the foot up heel first so that your toes are near the ground ready to jump into action so to speak.
The heat is good to help you dissipate any chemicals of inflammation so it will help reduce the swelling. Remember first and foremost that you have to pay attention. If you think you’re not ready to sit on your feet for example in Fixed Firm for whatever reason just skip it. You may find that left side of Half Moon makes you feel vulnerable in that ankle. That’s just an example to illustrate that you are responsible to help or hinder your progress and healing. Just be aware.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: home practice/no studio? #7501Hi David
There’s NOTHING wrong with that. You could actually do other things to warm up too. For example learn a few sun salutation moves (there are lots of variations). You would be surprised how warm you can get by a few salutations even with extended down dogs and a couple of push ups.
It’s great to do yoga at home. It’s very disciplined and very satisfying. Have fun and tell us how it goes
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: weight gain, water retention, bloating… #7500Hi Mary
I think you’ve hit on something quite significant. Reverse osmosis water is like distilled water to a great extent. Not much in there. Great taste but the minerals and ions disappear too!
It must be satisfying to know that the changes you’ve made are already demonstrating a positive difference for you
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Lanie
Great question! Don’t worry about creating a visual balance in how your poses look from one side to the other. Go to the point where your alignment is in tact. I had the same issue. First side super easy to get the alignment and the depth. Second side a real challenge and continues to be my more challenging side in Half Moon. I have to be far more vigilant and correct far more often and the corrections are bigger. My hips sometimes don’t seem to stay square. But hey, if it’s like that for you, just keep correcting and breathing.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: my studio is SMELLY! #7498Hi Anna and Lisa
Yes it really defies logic and commonsense. It’s interesting that you can go to one yoga class and be told that you create a traction with your feet against the mat in a warrior pose, only to go to another class and get told you have to FIGHT the slippery carpet to prove that you have strong inner thighs.
It’s very dogmatic I know and takes your own intuition out of the equation (especially if you feel that potential harm is imminent). And then here’s a question to ponder: What would happen if you didn’t turn your towel, said “thanks for the suggestion, I am working toward that goal.”
As you will have read in the other posts … as hard as it is to NOT be intimidated, it is your stuff if you are. It’s confronting and could even be abusive at times. But it’s also ultimately your choice to do as you deem fit for YOUR body. It’s only a towel. And I agree, stepping out on slippery sweaty carpet is unhygienic and damn icky. I know that in some studios I have had minor foot infections from the micro scratches in my skin and then infecting them with that less than optimal environment.
You can either stand your ground – EQUANIMOUSLY (no reaction and happy in your choice) or bow to the pressure. It’s a balance. Don’t be pushed around and don’t let them steal your peace. Your reaction will be what fuels further reaction. It’s a test! 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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