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hanumanasana - splits

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quasimago	hanumanasana - splits	Lead	[-]
Posts: 12 (02/22/09 08:28:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Looking for help with hanumanasana … At times I am completely into that pose and love practising towards it. BUT whenever I practise hanumanasana more intensively, I start overstretching the hamstrings and the groin. While I am in the pose it feels great, but sooner or later I always reach a point where I have to stop and give the body time to rest. So for me hanumanasana has this weird start stop effect and I am not getting anywhere with it. When practicing I make sure I am thoroughly warm and I know about rotation to keep the hips level. My hamstrings are not tight - I can easily bring my hands down to the floor in uttanasana - though I am not super flexible either. Somehow it feels that I am at my own personal limit and that further stretching is just too much. Could it be that full hanumansana is out of reach for some? Any suggestions or observations what is a good way for approaching hanumanasana and how to protect the hamstrings and groin?
KFN		#1	[-]
Posts: 4136 (02/22/09 08:49:27) Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for asking this! I'm close, but not there with this pose, and that's been the case for a long while. However, I have the feeling that one day, it's just going to happen... unlike some other poses (i.e. very deep back bends) where I feel my body is just not going to to go there ever. In hanumanasana, it feels like the back leg is where my restriction is, not so much the hams. I'm pondering your question about it being out of reach for some... I'm inclined to think that is the case. I'm very interested to see what others think. karen
yogini db		#2	[-]
Posts: 4571 (02/22/09 09:01:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Could it be that full hanumansana is out of reach for some? yes, i believe this is true. it could be an anatomical issue. obviously, we are all anatomically different, and that is one reason why we all look different in the poses. take for example, baddha konasana. some people's knees will never even get close to the ground because of their anatomical structure. i am not saying you will never be able to do the full hanumanasana. maybe you're just not ready.... YET. i'm certainly no expert. purna is very knowledgeable about this type of thing... maybe he'll jump in here. sit down before facts like a child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing. - thomas huxley
mugwagilly		#3	[-]
Posts: 528 (02/22/09 10:27:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Yes, Purna is very knowledgeable about these things and I'm curious to hear his thoughts. In terms of my own, my initial reaction is sorta, well, who cares if you're ever in the full pose? It's not like you get a prize. I don't mean that in a flip or rude way at all so please don't take it that way. It's just that sometimes I see my students get so caught up in attaining the full pose that they miss the journey, which for me is where most of the action is. I would say that if you like the feeling (physically and mentally) that you get from moving toward hanumanasana then just keep doing that. If one day you find yourself actually in the full pose, that's icing on the cake. The main thing, I think, is keeping your awareness on what you're doing from one moment to the next and just enjoy where that takes you. cheers, kelly
yogini db		#4	[-]
Posts: 4573 (02/22/09 11:22:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	who cares if you're ever in the full pose? It's not like you get a prize. i love it... sit down before facts like a child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing. - thomas huxley
drrona		#5	[-]
Posts: 13595 (02/22/09 11:39:42) Asst. Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	that's very true it reminds me of one time here with suzanne (in santa monica) we were talking about splits (among other things) and suzanne was saying how flexible she is and once she's "there" (as in in a full split--or whatever) WHERE ELSE is there to go? (in part meaning there IS now the 'job' of finding more to ease into--somewhere) so in someways, once you 'reach' the 'end pose' picture it ceases to 'end' mostly cause...it's not just about the external form it's about the internal ease and freedom to explore WHERE EVER You ARE. thanks for starting this Love rona "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Teresa
Lillylulu		#6	[-]
Posts: 3283 (02/22/09 11:52:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i haven't tried this pose in a long time, but at one point i was experiencing it thru many props. it is a gentle way by "supporting" the body in this pose with blankets, bolsters, blocks and staying there at the edge until the body is more willing to relax into the opening... it is like a healing, restorative approach... (after first opening the body, though)
yogini db		#7	[-]
Posts: 4575 (02/22/09 12:05:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i enjoy this approach, lil sit down before facts like a child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing. - thomas huxley
quasimago		#8	[-]
Posts: 13 (02/22/09 12:32:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks for all your replies. My issue is not will I ever get there, but rather the apparent fact that I love working on the pose but for some reason can't proceed as I wish. My hammies and groins give me a big no no. I don't think I am generally inattentive to my body, but I must obviously be doing something wrong. As I am not able to see where exactly that point is I thought to put this out to you as question and search for advice. I really enjoy the body opening up into the elongation of the pose. It is not that I treat myself harshly. But afterwards I suffer - which is to be avoided as you will know … I just want to get out of that cycle without giving up on the pose.
Lillylulu		#9	[-]
Posts: 3285 (02/22/09 14:44:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i wouldn't give it up... knowing you can't proceed as "you wish" is a big step in opening up to another way of getting in there... this is the practice, no?
drrona		#10	[-]
Posts: 13596 (02/22/09 18:35:50) Asst. Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	yes what lil said... ? is a very excellent Q proceeding "as you wish" jumped out at me too. adding (as lil mentioned also above ) using props/blankets to gently support you in a place that may ache afterwards BEFORE it aches could very well be a key to FREEDOM in opening/and not pulling something that you're not aware of distorting in the first place... not seeing you in action makes this harder to reply to... but the suggestions in the above posts are excellent ones indeed. "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Teresa
Lillylulu		#11	[-]
Posts: 3286 (02/22/09 19:46:25) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i just ran across this quote from rodney yee's book that speaks to opening in a pose: "Your body is water, so let the dams open and the water run the riverbed."
Erich Schiffmann		#12	[-]
Posts: 3599 (02/22/09 21:17:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I would also suggest you work your strength at your end range of motion, or near your end range. Get into the splits and isometrically contract the areas you're working on, hamstrings & groins, primarily. Do this in splits, lunges, reclining leg stretches etc Increasing your strength and muscle mass at your end range of motion will enable you to stretch further, safely.
quasimago		#13	[-]
Posts: 14 (02/23/09 05:07:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This is all very helpful. I guess the upshot will be to go even more slowly, to listen more deeply and not get carried away by the buzz of opening into the pose. Yes, isometrical work without going into length sounds like a good place to start right now. Thanks folks!
Dancing Lotus	An aside to Erich	#14	[-]
Posts: 4644 (02/23/09 12:58:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Wow Erich Thanks for the info about the isometrics. I have been having a bit of decreased range of motion in my left shoulder. I tried the isometrics and I think that is just what I need!! Thanks Love all the good advice here. the props are a great thing. ~ ~ We Radiate rainbows for the benefit of all humanity.

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