Coming off a huge weekend of yoga (actual practice time is upwards of 4.5 hours in two days), I can only say that I am seriously the problem child of the class. Not in a bad way, but in a way that I am now longer anonymous. My hip issues that became a contributing factor to my injury last fall has become a screaming/crying one in yoga class. I was lucky enough to demonstrate my hip issues for the rest of the class, TWICE. The first time was after a killer 2 hour yoga class + a high intensity bike workout that morning. Asked to demonstrate Warrior 2 and EVERYTHING in my lower leg cramped in front of the whole class. Then, again for Triangle pose. The teacher kind of raised her voice a little–my knees were killing me. To get me out of pain, she pulled HARD on my calf and made me tighten and lengthen my quad to take the pressure off my knee. OMG. I almost cried. Eyes are misty now. Not only because my body is fighting me on these poses but that I was in front of the class.
Our weekend’s focus was on externally rotated standing poses. CRAP!! Those poses include Tree Pose, Warrior 2, Extended Side Angle Pose, Half Moon Pose, and Triangle. We are taught all of the poses using the Sanskrit names of them, so, the English translation might not be the same as what you are used to. There is SO MUCH more happening in these poses….
Remember this post? Coach Al did a complete analysis of my running form and he could actually pinpoint EXACTLY where my problem is and why I had a knee injury (inflammation of the right medial quadricep of the knee). I knew then that I needed yoga to undo years of tightness in the hips, but, I now know what specifically I can do for the issue.
So, first, a video of me running…
Next, an image of me in Extended Triangle Pose (please excuse the squinty eyes). And if you are a yoga expert, feel free to offer comments on my position, there are significant problems with it. Specifically, my front knee is hyper-extending in the joint- (I have pain behind my knees in ANY extended straight leg position. Arggggg……..Pain + teacher = proper position and alignment = near tears for Rachel. By the end of today, I knew that if my teacher came near me, I was in trouble! One of the hardest part of learning all this is to LIFT the knees using my quadricep muscles. Are my feet lined up correctly? Are my hips in the right place? Can I make more space for my ribs by extending them out longer?
I’ve again learned so much that it’s hard to express at the moment. The key things for me are that pain in a yoga pose means that you are likely doing it wrong. Props are imperative for everybody. They enable you to stay in alignment but still benefit from the pose.
Learn from me, Please. Yoga will become essential to maintain supple, elastic joints- among other things!!!
18 responses so far ↓
1 Jamie // Apr 13, 2009 at 4:41 am
Yikes. That sounds like it sucks. My yoga teacher says that the less-bendy yoginis are lucky in their own way because they’re less likely to push their bodies farther than they can handle. But I don’t know. I think I’ll take super supple over drastic immobility any day (especially in Utthita Trikonasana
.
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2 shannon // Apr 13, 2009 at 11:34 am
OMGosh….
I would be exactly like you, I’m tight like violin strings. I’m on the foam roller at least once a week.
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3 RunToFinish // Apr 13, 2009 at 3:03 pm
wooooow 4.5 hours. you are amazing. I can’t wait til you start your own DVD
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4 teresa // Apr 14, 2009 at 11:34 am
You are doing a lot! You may need rest to let your muscles recover and to relax into your new level of yoga fitness. But,
I am not an expert, far, far, from it. Looking at your picture, it looks like your right side is
pulling you forward – is that the tight hip thing? How is your core strength?
I was wondering if those muscles were collapsing a little? and I want to reach in and put a block under your left hand so you can rest that part of your body and let the right side open. But, really, just observations and I wish I could say more – but 2 hours on the bike and then
yoga? Whoa! Amazing!
5 Stephanie // Apr 14, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I like that photo of you. You are so lean and toned!
I need Coach Al to do a running analysis on me too.
I love running, but I want to be sure to approach the sport with care. I don’t want to end up with bad knees when I’m older…
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6 sian // Apr 14, 2009 at 11:58 pm
You look great – wish I had your thighs -keep the running up and my big mistake is that I don’t stretch-bad I know
7 Fit to Twist // May 4, 2009 at 4:54 am
[...] number 3) is not correct. I know this cause I was attempting to demonstrate it a few weeks ago! (link) It’s an incredibly difficult [...]
8 Jen // May 4, 2009 at 8:20 pm
You are right on about the props!
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9 John@Acai // Sep 8, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Yes, stretching is so important if you are going to do any exercising.
10 Acai // Sep 8, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Also, I heard it is better to stretch after exercising not before as that can lead to injury.
11 vijay@acer laptops // Sep 27, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Yoga is a great way to stay fit and healthy.
12 Sandeep // Oct 16, 2009 at 10:23 am
Its amazing that you practice yoga for such a long time.
13 Resveratrol Extract // Oct 26, 2009 at 11:56 am
I love running, but I want to be sure to approach the sport with care. I don’t want to end up with bad knees when I’m older…
14 vijy // Nov 24, 2009 at 8:04 am
Following proper safety measures is a must during yoga.
15 Amega Global // Mar 21, 2010 at 5:05 am
Very informative post! I have not done much yoga myself, although I do enjoy stretching. It is very important to maintain flexibility as we all age.
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16 Resveratrol Healthblog // Apr 12, 2010 at 11:06 pm
eating a banana after my workout helps me to not get cramps.
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17 Bowtrol Review // Apr 22, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I hate cramps.My friend get it sometimes.
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18 Acnezine // Apr 25, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Cramps is not a cool thing at all.
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