Re lotus and opening the hips

[Guest guest]

As someone with incredibly tight hips, I'm just

curious to hear how long it might have taken others- or

takes - for hips to open - with regular practice. After

1.5 years there are very small perceptible changes in

flexibility. I shouldn't feel frustrated since the overall

affects of ashtanga practice are so positive. Still, some

postures are just not possible and seem like they never

will be. Any kind of lotus, even half, seems years

away.

[Guest guest]

After running marathons for 10 years, my hips

were as tight as hips can get. It took me almost well

over 1.5 years to get into padmasana comfortably. It

will happen for you too. Regular practice is the only

way to make progress. My teacher always says, "Don't

worry about what you can or can't do, be happy where

you are and breath."

[Guest guest]

I started practising about 3 years ago.I still

don't do lotus easily as my sciatic nerve prevents me

from stretching too deeply on one side (the result of

a car accident).I have noticed that in the last few

months that things are loosening up a bit more & I'm

able to stretch farther which I believe are the

results of really concentrating on ujjayi breathing & the

bandhas more than anything else.

[Guest guest]

I started practicing Ashtanga yoga about 2 years

ago, tight everywhere but especially in the hips and

with my left knee ailing from osteoarthritis (worn

away articular cartilage, constant swelling). I'm

nowhere near being able to sit in lotus, but half lotus

on my "good" side is not too far away.<br><br>The

good news is that I've seen so many positive changes

and I know with patience and regular practice there's

so much more yet to come. My knee has improved a

great deal and my hips are starting to wake up. I

include some alternative postures to work on opening the

hips and back off as soon as my knee starts to

complain.<br><br>One day I'll be able to sit in full lotus, but

there's no need to hurry. It's a lifelong practice and

I'm enjoying the journey.

[Guest guest]

Hi,<br><br>I have been doing astanga, as

regularly as I can ( ie on and off ) for almost 2 years

now.<br><br>I love yoga, and have got a lot of positive

things<br>out of it.<br><br>One of them being, realizing how

inflexible I am.<br>Somehow this knowledge, which explains a

lot to me, makes me feel better. Partly, because it

is something I feel like I have some control over,

can improve. And partly because it provides very

logical explanations for things that happen to

me.<br><br>But something struck me about your post, the way you

said 'some postures are just not possible, and seem

like they never will be.'<br><br>It has taken me 2

years to be able to sit on my heels, although it still

causes discomfort.<br>( Yep, I am extremely

unflexible.)<br><br>1.) When I first sat on my heels, after having it as

a goal for over a year, I was amazed. I felt really

proud of myself. But then the next yoga practice, I

realized it didn't matter that I could sit on my heels.

I'd reached the next 'stage' of my yoga practice (

eventually<br>trying to sit with my bum between my heels )and it was

exactly the same as the first stage of my yoga

practice!<br><br>It mattered to noone else that I could sit like

that. BUt the actual act of sitting on my heels, didn't

mean anything to me either.<br> <br>Acheiving a goal

in yoga doesn't change anything, it can't bring any

happiness.<br><br>That is why yoga is about doing,not about

acheiving.<br><br><br>2. I look at the pictures in beryl's book, and I

hope when i'm 50 i'll be as good as yoga as

her.<br>But the poses that are way beyond me, I can't even

imagine being good at. I'm too far away from them. Only a

different body would be able to acheive them.<br>My body

can only hope to get a tiny bit more flexible here

and there.<br><br>Each day I can only hope for the

tiniest change.<br>Because I still want to be me. If I

could do the full lotus, (or half lotus ) I wouldn't

be<br>me! I'd be someone who can do the full lotus!<br>It's

like if i was 6 foot tall, i wouldn't be<br>me either.

or male or chinese....<br><br>But if each month my

overall flexiblity improves<br>a tiny bit. in 100 months

maybe I will be someone<br>who can do the half lotus.

and that will be me.<br><br><br><br>( I know I

haven't explained it well.....<br>Sometimes typing

thoughts out just doesn't work.)<br><br>Liz

[Guest guest]

Liz, thank you so much for putting my thoughts

into words! You've explained it much better than I

could have. As you said, Yoga really is about doing,

not achieving. Get a regular practice going and enjoy

the changes, however big or small, that will

come.<br><br>Namaste.

[Guest guest]

Liz , you are a wise person. I agree, DOING yoga

brings the most joy. But achieving a goal is also

rewarding - as you say: "When I first sat on my heels,

after having it as a goal for over a year,<br> I was

amazed. I felt really proud of myself." There is

something to be said for that kind of experience. Then one

can anticipate with pleasure the next development. .

..<br><br>Since I have one hip that appears permanently out of

line, I simply cannot participate in certain postures.

The knee sticks annoyingly in the air. In fact the

entire rest of my body has become slowly more flexible

over two years, but those parts sort of need the left

hip to help out - they're practically begging the

left hip to get with the program. As it is, i just

have to skip quite basic postures most of the rest of

me is prepared for.<br><br>Paul