touch your toes? sure, with what?

[Guest guest]

this is sort of a 'what is possible' question for the gumbies out there. can

anyone in this group touch the floor with their elbows when bending forward

while standing?

[Guest guest]

I'm pretty sure that Granville Cousins comes

pretty close. He is an amzingly lanky and supple teacher

of African origin from Manchester who used to teach

Iyengar classes at the Practice Place in

Crete.<br><br>However, looking at the picture of Iyengar doing

Padahastasana on p.91 of "Light on yoga", it doesn't look too

likely. <br><br>I've decided to wait a few lifetimes. As

long as I can get my elbows to my desk during boring

translations I am quite happy ...

[Guest guest]

well, you can first try to touch your tous with the elbows from

Paschimottanasana :-))

[Guest guest]

but it's possible:<br><a

href=

target=new> </a><br><br>G\

eorge

[Guest guest]

I've seen Granville get his elbows almost to his ankles. Not the floor - but

then, he was demonstrating during a class so he wasn't warmed up!

[Guest guest]

there's a photo on the web of a contortionist (just) putting elbows down...seems

to me he's got a very long torso and quite short legs.<br><br>I don't think

elbow touching is possible otherwise.

[Guest guest]

yeah that's the guy!

[Guest guest]

I'm not surprised the guy can touch his elbows to

the floor. He looks like his legs are really short

for his body! Just goes to show you that you can't

judge anyone by how proficient they are in the

postures. Some people's physiques allow them to do certain

postures with ease from the very beginning.

[Guest guest]

I'm about 1/4 inch away and my legs are sort of

long, but I mean what's the point. It's fairly

meanigless as far as I can tell.If you decide to give out

some kind of reward like frequent flyer miles or cash

let me know.

[Guest guest]

there was no point to the question, just curiosity--what are the limits

anatomically.

[Guest guest]

I read a story a long time ago about Nadia Comaneci (sp?) signing autographs

after a meet while bending over and resting on her elbows.