Yoga classes frequently presuppose a level of flexibility that most people simply do not have. There’s no way the average bloke will be able to keep up with the following:
This next video is from Yoga Journal:
Elena Brower says: “Sit in a simple cross-legged position.”
This position is going to be far from simple for many people. Most of us will need to sit on cushions to be comfortable.
There’s a lot of tension and compression in the shoulders of this woman. That’s not something you will want to imitate.
Notice how her right arm is held in close to the body while her left arm goes out. Her whole right side is more contracted than her left side.
1:28. While the narrarator says “lift to a flat back,” the model tenses and compresses her neck. Her back is far from flat.
Like most yoga instructions, this video is all about accomplishing postures and it pays no attention to the quality of the movement. From an Alexander Technique perspective, what’s going on with a person at each moment (is there tightening or compression going on or is there expansion and ease) is far more important than accomplishing any position or posture.
If most people in the Western world try to do these exercises, they are simply going to lack the necessary flexibility and strength. They are going to fail much of the time and in the process put themselves at high risk for injury.
Sandra Wind-Carson says: “With every practice, we’re looking for our edges, for our boundaries, that is where we can find the openings.”
It’s also an invitation to injury if you keep seeking your boundaries.
All the instructions here are about what poses to do and there’s nothing about the quality and ease of the movement. Pushing for achieving these postures invites injury and detracts from attention to your own interfering tension patterns.
This video begins with instructions to lie on your back without head support. Thus the neck and torso are compressed and breathing and ease are impaired.
If you’ve made it through my blog post this far, you deserve a reward.
