|
|
| Hi ,
I am having problems at the moment getting my back heel down in Virabhadrasana I. I am working my back leg as hard as I can and my pelvis is lifting, not tilting back. I think it could be something to do with the length of my achillies tendons??
I can get the heel down if I don't turn the back heel in as much, but then I can't achieve the required rotation in the hips.
Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be and how I can remedy the situation??
|
|
| |
|
| vira I is a much tougher posture than it initially lets on.
when i was practicing with poor alignment, i thought, "gee, this is a pretty simple/easy posture"
nope
you probably shouldn't be working your back leg as hard as possible to get the heel down.
it will come with time.
imho, the alignment of the hips takes precedence over getting your heel down.
you can work in a lunge position until the back of your leg opens up a little bit.
heres a thought: try to get more extension through the backs of your legs in other standing postures. flatten your heels on the ground, and feel the line of energy all the way up the back of your leg, and from there, press back with your hamstring without hyperextending the knee.you might want to try having someone hold a block against your hamstring, and attempting to push into the block.
best of luck.
|
|
| |
|
| five years I've been doing virabhandrasana I... still don't realiably get my rear foot down. my ankles aren't inflexible, but that's one way they don't like to go. keep working at it, keeping proper alignment, and working on pressing through the outside of your rear foot, it will come down over time (it's come down a lot for me - it touches now and again). |
|
| |
|
| Great advice, thanks guys  |
|
| |
|
Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
    
| Try putting your back heel a little way up a wall. I always teach it this way to start and also practice this way a lot. Tough pose! |
|
| |
|
| Thanks for the info on Virabhadrasana I. It is a tough pose and it can be hard to align the hips and keep in the back foot down. I like the foot slightly up the wall for proper hip alignment. 
In my classes, I cannot use any props  .
Edited by namaste2 2006-04-12 11:09 AM
|
|
| |
Virabhadrasana I
