Primary, again at the Y. Concentration and attention on bandhas (my fave bandha is uddiyana, but that's a whole separate entry). They SERIOUSLY do make it all easier.
Dropbacks, just like last week. 2 prep hang backs, 3 dropbacks, the first one better (no head contact), the second one inadvertently heels up (and as I predicted, hands closer to feet), the third more fearful, head bounce with no harm, on padded gym mat.
Oddly, no dropbacks SINCE last week--am I only dropping back after Primary, then? Is this some kind of funny asana joke, universe?
And,
Can someone nutshell for me what it feels like, or should or will or might feel like, to rock up to standing? I can't seem to grok the proprioception or the concept, and so rocking to fingertips doesn't sort of jump-start me on the full rise. If I can imagine it better, I can approach it more realistically.
13 comments:
You are in a backbend:
Inhale.
Exhale and push through your heels, trying to get your legs straight. Your chest should feel it.
Inhale and release and try to reverse the movement, pushing away with your hands and bending your legs a little.
Repeat three times. On the third time, as you inhale, focus all your energy on your knees. That is the direction you are going. Launch yourself. You might land on your knees. As long as you uncurl your back and do not lead with your chin, this is fine.
Thanks V, I will definitely try this; I'm rehearsing the breathing/visualization as I read it :)
Nicely put.
hi Patrick, i think Elise and Tiffany are the experts on this. i used to have printouts of their recommendations. funny, i can't remember, have those stored in my computer which is in storage. i have the same challenge. i've heard that some teachers recommend the rocking motion, others think it's distracting. but most recommend it. i like your mix of words, making new verbs, Patrick.
cheers,
Arturo
lemme check. i may have backed up my personal files and brought them. if i find the advice from them, i will send it to you soon.
In a nutshell, NO.
Love ya!!!
Ok, nevermind then.
Hah--now what's this deleted comment I've apparently missed? Dang.
Arturo, your research is appreciated! How's life after the move?
hi Patrick
beee-sy. you can see i haven't delivered. so let me check right now. found it! this was the discussion in Chez Elise a long while back on standing up from UD. (I probably need to apply this myself.) - Cheers, Arturo
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Probably there is a right way, and maybe I'm wrong, but here's how I got it. In your last wheel, rock back and forth on your hands and feet. Every time you exhale, take your chest toward you hands, and everytime you inhale, take your hips forward past your heels. This gives you momentum, it helps you learn to move on the breath and it gets you flexible where you need to be. I'd start there.
Once you feel really mobile there (and it might take some time), you are ready to stand up. On your 5th exhale the chest is away from your feet, you are rocking your weight into your hands, and as you inhale, you rock forward and stand up. I was really obsessed with trying to do it with my feet parallel, but sometimes you should just stand up. DON'T come up one hand at a time. Trust me, this is horrible for your back. You have to get your hips forward but also use your thighs. Its all about the bandhas! Hope that helps. You should ask Russell. He's really good at explaining back bends.
idoru said... Hello, I wanted to add that as you rock your hips forward, you need to mindfully continue to inhale or you WILL fall back to your hands. Or worse, you'll fall onto your head! Elise's instructions are correct. But I struggled with that for a year until my teacher noticed that I held my breath as my hands left the floor.
Think of your heart center as a helium balloon. It won't rise unless its filled with helium. The first time I mindfully completed the inhalation was the first time I managed to stand up unassisted. Good luck, Darren
elise said... very good point. if you stop your breathing, your body will turn into a stiff board. you'll pause in mid-air, and then come crashing down. you've got to ride your breath like a wave, man. totally!
i like to call the 'rocking' a shifting of weight: here you are over your hands, here you are over your feet. you need to be over your feet to stand up. hips come over the feet, and then lift from your belly button on the inhale. don't snap your head up. you don't need to see where you are going. and as my very first teacher said to me, stick your hands in your pockets as you come up. that way you avoid the weird flailing around a lot of people do.
Arturo and Tova--thanks, both!
Yes, yes, I remember that bit, "put your hands in your pockets."
The helium balloon, as well. Arturo, this is magnificent research. I'll be returning to it!
I have more to say about dropping back, as today saw this crazy, absolutely nutty, practice. Far out things happened all over the place. I'm going to write a sequel as I write a lesson plan for school tomorrow.
Good to see you here again, Mrs. Housefrau!
i am usually around, i just don't always say stuff
:)
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