Saturday, April 12, 2008

Tight groins

I have never seen my own Urdhva Dhanurasana. I am not sure how it happened, but it's true. I realized this today, contemplating the areas of my body that hold me back in my backbends. I sneaked out into the common corridor of our apartment building and took the picture with a 10-sec timer. It came out overexposed but I did not want to risk neighbors finding me in the pose. Here it is, joining the gazzilion of UD pictures on the web:


It confirmed what I felt this morning - the tightness comes in the groin area. From the knees to the navel I am as straight as a board, no even a hint of rounding. So hip flexor stretches, here I come! (Linda, I really want to read your future post on the topic! :)

14 comments:

Yoga Chickie said...

I think that is a spectacular UD. Truly gorgeous. Your perception of tight hip flexors is just your perception...

That said, of all of the parts of your UD, your hip flexors show the least "participation". If you want a more comfortable UD, definitely you can work on hip flexor flexibility...

But really...an astonishingly gorgeous UD.

lilalia said...

Rather ingenious way to approach your problem. You must have giggled a bit from relief when you got back into your apartment, unseen.

alfia said...

Thank you, Lauren!

Your are right, Lilalia. For a hypothetical outside observer it must've been quite comical - a middle aged woman leaves her apartmen with a tripod and a camera, sets them in the corridor, assumes a weird pose, camera clicks, the woman disappears in her apartment. The whole thing took probably 20 seconds. Hmm, I wonder if we have security cameras in the corridors.... :D

Boodiba said...

My own (relative) hip flexor tightness was pointed out to me last year by two teacher friends. I immediately started working on it. They respond fairly quickly...

There is so much to back bending besides the actual spine. You need to open up the hip flexors and the whole general area of the front of the pelvis, and then of course the shoulders and all the supporting muscles.

I'm about to print out today's practice plan now! Will work on the hip flexor post this week I promise.

Yes that is a lovely Urdvha D though. Nothing wrong with it.

crankyhausfrau said...

your UD is gorgeous Alfia!
i forgot you don't come sundays anymore, and missed you this morning. i am in for the week, will you drop me an email and hopefully we can get together sometime? i don't have access to my email addresses away from my home computer :p

Arturo said...

Hi Alfia
That's beautiful. And it gives me an idea on how I might photograph my own asanas too. There's no vantage point in my apt.
Cheers
Arturo

Anonymous said...

Alfia you and Cranky are going to get together! I love, really love, when friendships spring off these pages and into real life.

Your UD is lovely. Don't sweat it. Yeah, there's always stuff we can "do" but the practice also does its own magic over time.

alfia said...

Hi, Tova! Thank you and I will see you tomoorow!

Morning, Arturo: I think it is actully not difficult to take pics of ourselves in the common corridor very early in the morning (esp. on the weekend). I was in a hurry and did it in the evening, when our building is wide awake and buzzing. It seems to be a very useful exercise to have asanas photographed - all the pluses and minuses are very obvious. :)

alfia said...

Good morning, Anna:

Thank you! I am very excited to see Tova again. She is wonderful and also she promised to be my friend when Rayna and Aliya leave for India. :D
I think I will babysit for her in return. :)

crankyhausfrau said...

OMG! seriously! i will be your very best friend! i will make you cupcakes! oh, but maybe you ought to meet them first before you offer babysitting. you will find out wednesday!

Elaina said...

Beautiful UD! I keep meaning to take pics of myself in most postures, so that I can give myself some feedback. You have inspired me to do it, and I'll post the pics once I have :)

You have incredible flexibility in your low back, is your UD comfortable to you?

alfia said...

Thank you, Elaina!

I do not think my lower back is all that flexible. I think I overcompensate a little for the lack of groin flexibility. I started pushing my tailbone up lately. It is an interesting feeling, but I do not know if it made a difference or not (need to take another pic!). And yes, UD is comfortable for me (but I still can't stand up from it! Ugh!)

LI Ashtangini said...

Your UD looks nice, Alfia!

Ursula said...

It's great. Really.

Ursula

 

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