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in reply to: sacrum problem #7497
Hi Jennifer
Are you able to tell me how you dislocated your sacrum?
What do you feel in that area when you’re not doing yoga? Do you have difficulties in walking or any other regular activity?
What does it respond to? Manipulation? Massage?
Is the chiropractor you attend the person who diagnosed your problem?
I don’t know enough to get an idea of what’s going on… perhaps you can tell me more information.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: straightening knees? #7496Hi Judy
I came to answer your post and that of Kirsten’s only to notice the original post is a full 12 months older than I thought. Be that as it may, I am here – finally. Straightening your knees in certain poses is overrated and is an artificial goal and gets many people out of tune with their bodies. So please tell me in which poses you have difficulty and in what way. Is it similar to Kirsten’s description of her past issues?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: After class #7495Hi Cyberry
Perhaps you’re saying I’m sleeping on the job! 😆
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Brenda
Alrighty, let’s see if we can get a little closer. Check into your arms and tell me if what you are feeling is your arms locking out, or is it that they are straight and stretching?
Next, even with a little pressure on the top of your head, if you have set up the right traction your neck will feel relief. So don’t be afraid to let your head seat properly. If your feet are still wanting to hover then there is more to do. Push your shins and knees downward and move your hips and back upward.
Your feet should be wanting to stay on the ground.
Let me know where you’re at…
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Flat footed and knock kneed #7493Hi Lisa
Just curious to know if your heels are behaving! 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Feet cramping & vertigo #7492Hi Brenda and Patti
What I first thought of was the problem that many people have as a result of habitual shoe wearing. It’s bizarre to think that some people’s feet rarely get out of shoes.
I met a woman the other week in a shoe shop who has all sorts of sores on the soles of her feet and she is CONSTANTLY in pain. I had a conversation with her and found out that the ONLY time she doesn’t have some kind of shoe on is when she steps into the shower. TRUE!
I just tell you that story to point out that cultural convention may be to wear shoes of different designs and shapes. And that they have a bigger impact on your body than you think. Maybe what’s happening is your feet are needing time to recover and get used to connecting with the earth and in the process using muscles and tissues in a different way. Oh, and by the way, the woman to whom I refer always wears orthotics or special comfort shoes … when what she REALLY needs is walking around on her own 2 feet!
Even in the 10 days or so since you posted you may find that your yoga is allowing you to access your feet in a more holistic way which could mean you are cramping less now.
I think from your post you were talking about your standing foot. Is that right? So Brenda, have there been any improvements?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Hysterectomy #7491Hi Micherie
Welcome back! It’s great to hear you’re feeling better and getting back to your yoga.
You know the advice would be to stay in tune with what’s working and what’s not. You may find that extra sensitivity is required in the abdominal region!
The most important thing is to keep practicing your core activation. If you need help in core activation, go get some hands on assistance from a therapist or pilates teacher or someone like that.
Happy healing!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Can't even begin to get my hands under my heels #7489Hi Denise
You have made some progress with the separate leg intense stretch. Now let’s take that and apply it to Hands to Feet (forward bend in the Half Moon series). When you come up from backbend and just before you descend with a straight back, step your right foot out about hip width and see how you go.
It will make your balance a hell of a lot easier, it may give you the space you need for your breasts, it will probably allow you to get a better grip under your feet, then your traction will improve and before you know it you will likely be able to have your feet closer and closer together.
Play with that distance between your feet. Think about how a pregnant woman would do that pose. It’s pretty much the same thing. Just separate your feet, learn what distance that is, adjust mid pose if you need to.
Sorry for the delay in response! Let me know how you go and we can now work on Head to Knee.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: The Beginnings of Heat Stroke? #7488Hi Megan
David adds some great value in his post. Just wondering how you’re going now that several weeks have passed. Your approach to your yoga is a fascinating one. It does seem as though there is a lot of thought involved regarding accomplishment perhaps attached to ego and getting it right.
Still I can appreciate that the benefits are great if you can ‘do’ your asana with precision. It’s what’s attached to the accomplishment that could be deciphered for you. I am not here to analyze you – you have done a great job at recognizing your own stuff. Your practice does appear to be being approached as an athlete would their sport.
Who am I to say that is wrong? I would however love to hear how you go by being more gentle on yourself in the process. Is it just a mindset change that could be called for? So Megan, what will it take to be more gentle and allowing? You obviously have the technique, you can do the asana, what will it take to do the yoga?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂PS I am looking forward to hearing your response to my post, no matter what that brings up for you. I have no attachment to being right here, just throwing something into the ring for consideration!
in reply to: arms behind the calf muscles #7487Aha Brenda
There’s your problem… pulling with your arms out sideways. Make sure that at EVERY moment your arms are neatly tucked in by your legs. 😉
What you’ve been doing is going beyond where your body is at because of some elusive artificial goal of ‘getting somewhere’.
I won’t address the other comment about the ‘Bikram school of thought’ except to say that the aims of the pose and the yoga are being lost in holding to the exact words of the script. If you’ve been doing what you’ve been doing and no one has caught that then that speaks volumes to me.
Keep your arms in, and stay in tune with what’s going on and you’ll progress far more quickly! It’s a really satisfying pose!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: arms behind the calf muscles #7476Hi Brenda
I am not sure it’s about arm strength. I think it’s possibly about being able to seat your shoulders in that nice relaxed position (away from the ears) and then focusing the energy to come from fingers and biceps. As you arms come around you are by default involving your shoulders. So what you can do for a while to help you is just try bending down and pulling as you lift only to the extent you can keep the arms behind. You can also try a little space between your feet. It may only be a tiny space. And the other thing to do is let your head hang rather than trying to get your face on your legs. Let gravity take your chin.
Please try that and let me know what happens
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Night Sweats #7475Hi Fiffi
Wow, thanks for the info and the updates (that goes to the rest of you other fab women too!). I will be interested to see what your little private clinical study of one results in. Does that mean that the ONLY difference in your experience will be the heat going from 95 to 105 degrees? Will EVERYTHING else be the same? The number of classes, the general style of nutrition, the supplementation, the water? Just thought I would ask!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Michael,
I do agree with Juliette it could take some professional attention. Have you by any chance tried the technique laid out in Opening Up Your Hamstrings In Hot Yoga? It’s very possible that you have your legs too widely positioned and it’s causing strain. Check out the post and see if that resonates for you.
And the other thing, how’s that issue with the arthritis going? 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: practising Hot Yoga while still breast feeding. #7465Hello Jackie
Ah, it’s hearsay!!! As the mother of a lovely 7.5 year old child and who breastfed (sometimes during class in the early months – no, NOT in the hot room) I can tell you it’s OK!
I did have to drink A LOT. You have to drink extra because of the fluid your baby ‘takes’ from you. If you’re constipated then that’s a sign to drink more. Remember to take sea salt as a supplementation. The only thing I remember is lying belly down on the floor with full breasts can be … well … quite uncomfortable. So I would lie with my arms folded under my head and forehead resting on my forearms. That did the trick!
How old is your baby?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Shoulder and Hamstring Issues #7458Hi Christina
Regarding your shoulder: Please make sure you don’t hunch your shoulder in response to the pain. That usually happens when you straighten your arm above your head. Check out posts at Half Moon and Shoulder threads for some good ideas. You probably won’t straighten your arm for a while and that’s perfectly fine and acceptable. The movement is good but it has to be for a purpose and not hamper your healing.
Standing Bow is a wonderful pose for you because it can break up the deposits in your shoulder (as would camel and other shoulder traction poses). It is great for “frozen shoulder”.
Your hamstring problem is most likely an injury that could be helped by a little therapy: Massage and strengthening. Take a look at hamstring posts. This most recent one is very relevant to you: Hamstrings, Glutes and SI Joints.
What Shona is suggesting is consistent with the technique you will find in the post referred to above called “Opening Up Your Hamstrings With Hot Yoga”.
Hope you feel better very soon!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Advanced series changing my practice for the worse? #7455Hi Y’all
A fascinating read! Thanks!
PJ: I also believe it’s something that could be addressed by looking at your intake of food, supplements and so on.
Cory: For me too, I simply cannot have cold water because it can make me sick. Generally and except in rare circumstances, even in the height of summer I still want to drink ambient temperature water. You may not believe this but I actually take warm lemon and ginger tea (a teabag) in my drink bottle into yoga with me. I really don’t drink in class much at all if at all, but after class it’s ready for me to guzzle down should I wish. And I never feel worse for wear.
Cyberry: Thanks for the Iron suggestion. Is your supplement chelated? That makes them easier on the digestion (no constipation). Green leafies like Kale are a great idea too. Check out this smoothie recipe from Shona which I have to try very soon. It can be found here at this interesting conversation about Protein and Building Strength:
My fave recipe at the moment is one green apple, the juice of half a lemon, teaspoon of cinnamon, the inside of one vanilla pod, one firmly packed cup of kale, 2/3 cup of water and 6-10 ice cubes… blend it up… yum… great after a late class.
And PJ, don’t worry at all. We can discuss anyone, and any type or style of (hot) yoga here. I actually recommended the exact same video to someone else just yesterday so that they could do the Advanced Series at home. It doesn’t matter what it’s called and who popularized it, Yoga is Yoga and it belongs to EVERYONE.
The beginners’ series is attainable by just about anybody and any body. The advanced series would never be as popular or as attended because the poses are simply not as easy for the average body. 20+ poses are easier to remember than 80+ poses. There are tons of reasons. Probably the most important one is that it feels great and we love to do it (and talk about it!).
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂PS 😆 As I type this, Shona’s post just came in! Thanks Shona for the recipe!
Hi Lanie
You’ve come to the right place. Do a search up in the box above with the word ‘scoliosis’ to see what we’ve discussed before.
You are right, it is really going to be up to you.
Having had the same issues as you (and I am sure I have written about them on the forum before 😉 ) I can tell you that what could help you a lot is to go to the evening classes when your body has had more time to warm up. It’s not that you won’t benefit from the 6am classes. Of course you will. It’s just your body – which is already quite resistant to moving in certain ways or sides of poses etc – will enjoy a little more freedom after a day of warmth and movement. Just speaking from experience. What you feel and how fast the changes happen for you and perhaps how much soreness you feel as your body changes could be influenced by the times you take class.
As for the floor poses there are ways to check your alignment before and after poses without looking in the mirror WHILE you’re in the poses. Let me know if you need any help there. The main thing is as you’ll read elsewhere is to learn how it feels to lie in proper alignment. Even if it feels odd (at first) good alignment you will not be surrendering to the problem but working on re-balancing your body.
Important question: How often are you going?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Sweating after class #7450Hi MissRx
I would try next time, lying for 10 minutes (and even longer if you can manage it or you have the luxury). It could make the difference for you. There will be days for everyone where they continue sweating. So you may have to try this for a number of classes, but I have found that staying still for longer can do a lot more for your whole system than just help with the sweat issue. Come back and tell us all what happens for you.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Can't even begin to get my hands under my heels #7442Hi Denise
😆 I don’t have magic powers, I just click on the little “PROFILE” button and then your name is revealed!!! Try it. You’ll find out that Fraseram’s name is Amy!!! 😉
Now on to your issue:
May I ask you if your bust gets in the way? Also have you tried with your feet hip width apart or apart at some distance? It would help me to know these things.We’ll get to the Head to Knee pose soon!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂PS: Thanks for telling me that my techniques have helped you in your practice. I appreciate it greatly!
in reply to: Balancing in Standing Bow. #7437Hi Jeff
Oh yes! Please try that. You will find a huge difference in your ability to find the stretch and the action of this pose. It will bring those wayward toes back into line 😉 plus you will get some beautiful ankle stretching and other sensations which you may not have felt before from shin to toes! You can go back to holding at the ankle when you’ve got this handled!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Water during class #7436Yes Brenda, you are right to think of it that way. Make YOUR progress in your way. As long as it doesn’t become your permanent crutch or distraction! You already know it’s part of your journey so that realization is perfect. We all have only a certain amount of things we can deal with at any one moment.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Brenda
I hope I can catch you before your next class. Try introducing a little space between head and knees (only a tiny bit bigger than normal or away from the knees if they are touching at the moment). There’s small chance that this could help you … however …
I would like to talk more about what’s going on because there’s definitely something going on if AT ANY TIME your feet want to lift off the ground.
What is happening in your arms? And normally do you feel that you’re rolling forward onto your head? Often people will unconsciously untuck the chin just a touch because they think it will stop them rolling forward. But it actually causes the problem. So check into what could be an imperceptible movement.
Come back and let me know and we’ll sort this out. There are other Rabbit posts of course and they will be helpful because this has been covered before. 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂in reply to: Labral tear (hip) #7420Hi Maria
Thanks for all your detailed information. I hope you get some answers from people who have had the same or similar issues.
The way the forum works is that most people who contribute to a thread like this one will usually choose to be notified of responses. So it’s very likely that Daba, Tiffany and Jackie will all receive your message. You may like to wait a little while to see what responses you get. Additionally you can send them a Private Message (see the PM button?) asking them to respond – hopefully posting their answers right here on the forum – so everyone can benefit from your experiences and continue to broaden the publicly available knowledge!!!
Your experience is not uncommon. Unfortunately many people believe yoga is the cure-all. It is the most wonderful tool. Not everyone has the hardware to get into those generally amazing hip openers. Anyway, at this moment I think anyone would certainly be jumping the gun to offer asana advice without you having had your post-op appointment. It’s always good to know where you ‘stand’. I am pretty sure that you will not have to completely throw away your asana practice. There will be a middle ground for you!!!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Judith
Everyone has emotional ‘tides’ and these can often be ‘unexplained’. If you try to make it about something (to do with the yoga) you could be sabotaging your own fine efforts.
It is possible too, that you need to give yourself permission to sit out a set or 2 of a pose now and then or even a pose or 2 if you need to. If your fitness level is not where you want it to be yet, then allow yourself to work your way up to that. I know it’s hard when ‘everyone else’ seems to be able to do it, but believe me the extra care you put in now, not only teaches you to be more self aware, it will mean your breakthroughs come faster and with far less struggle!
In a few words: Honor your own path
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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