http://namasteph.com/practice-log/forward-bend-breakthrough/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:40:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://namasteph.com/practice-log/forward-bend-breakthrough/#comment-923 janita Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:46:41 +0000 http://namasteph.com/?p=85#comment-923 huh? A heatwave makes you looser! Isn't that why they practise at blood temperature in Bikram Yoga? I know exactly what you mean though - I spent years (and yes, I do mean years) struggling with forward bends. My teacher would say "paschimottânâsana" and immediately I would think "uh oh, here we go". Then one day I thought hey! why am I so worked up about this? There's no competition in yoga, even with myself. Just relax, let go, no goals, just go with the flow.. and what do you know, those tight hamstrings decided to stop fighting me. Okay, in winter (and it gets really cold here) my forward bends are not what you see inthe books, but in summer I just flowinto them no bother. The key is to not care - just relax and breathe into the posture. Let all the muscles in the back of the body relax deeply, use the breath to relax further and you'll be there. Good luck! Enjoy! May your spine be strong and supple! huh? A heatwave makes you looser! Isn’t that why they practise at blood temperature in Bikram Yoga?
I know exactly what you mean though - I spent years (and yes, I do mean years) struggling with forward bends. My teacher would say “paschimottânâsana” and immediately I would think “uh oh, here we go”. Then one day I thought hey! why am I so worked up about this? There’s no competition in yoga, even with myself. Just relax, let go, no goals, just go with the flow.. and what do you know, those tight hamstrings decided to stop fighting me. Okay, in winter (and it gets really cold here) my forward bends are not what you see inthe books, but in summer I just flowinto them no bother. The key is to not care - just relax and breathe into the posture. Let all the muscles in the back of the body relax deeply, use the breath to relax further and you’ll be there. Good luck! Enjoy! May your spine be strong and supple!

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