Hatha Yoga 8th Dec, 2008.

Monday 8th December, 2008.
Weight 167.5

Before Sunrise I did Surya Namaskar and a flow based on Virabhadrasana III.

In the afternoon I worked on Hatha Yoga.

To start the session I repeated my morning sequence to warm my muscles up. In this session I wanted to mainly work on Arm Balances, so starting with Surya Namaskar and the Virabhadrasana III flow is a lovely way to get going.

Arm Balances

One of the things that have helped me with my balance is forming a small hollow in the palms of my hands when I am using them to balance on the floor. It seems the act of making the hollow increases the stability. I do not know if this works for every one, but it does work for me.



Lolasana

When working on this asana I used two bricks, and found that it made quite a difference. The bricks allow me to get the little extra arm length that I need to do the asana. I have also noted that by looking forward a little I am able to balance a little more. I am not craning my head forward, but just a slight tilt of the head. I still need work Lolasana as my wrists ached a little at the finish of this asana.


Vasisthasana

I had a little problem with this. On the left side I was a little wobbly. I could not balance with my arm in the air, let alone my hand holding my big toe as my leg extends upward! Ha, ha!

The right side was more stable, and I was able to get my arm in the air. I was able to get ahold of my big toe, but there was not much extending going on. I think a part of the problem could be the presentation of my pelvis. I shall try adjusting my posture in the next Arm Balance session.


Astavakrasana


I was able to work both sides, but it was very sloppy.... There was not the nice 'crisp' feeling that I have when an asana really comes together.


Bhujapidasana
This also felt rather sloppy when the left foot was hooked over the right foot. The odd thing is that often it is the other way about. When the right foot is hooked over the left. I have been traveling a bit, so I have not been able to work on the Arm Balances and it is showing in the performance of my asanam.


Bakasana


Somewhat off balance. It is a little off putting what is missing from my practice, that was there only a few days ago. I suppose my stuffy sinuses may have something to do with my lack of balance.


Parsva Bakasana


This was not to bad. Both sides worked quite well. Thought the left side was a little wobbly. Once I relaxed I could get even more from the form. I was able to extend and the balance was better.




Backbends


Ustrasana


Once my hands were on my heals I relaxed and the asana felt very 'sweet', but not euphoric (that would have been a bad sign.) I had a lovely bend just below my shoulder blades. Holding the asana felt very nice.


Urdhva Dhanurasna


The upward lift was smooth and comfortable. There was a nice arch in my back (or that is the way it seemed.) Breathing was smooth and easy.


Eka Pada Rajakapotasana


This was not bad, but I was only working with the asana to gain the stretch. The asana still need much work on my part. :)


Kapotasana


Ha! Needs work... that is all I can say! :)




I finished off with part of the Sarvangasana Cycle.

Mac Crash.

I just got my mac back.  The video card was bad, but my hard drive also crash and I have lost all of my data...
All gone... notes, yoga figures, pictures, addresses, music, web pages I was working on.. boy what a mess..

I have not been able to add to my blog for a few days. My Mac crashed, and I am using a Linux box that is on its last legs. I do not know how long this computer will last. Cheers, Alec

Hatha Yoga (improving arm balances.)

23rd of October, 2008.

I started the morning with Surya Namaskar and a balancing flow based on Virabhadrasana III. I added Garudasana to the flow a few days ago. I noticed that when balancing on my right side is more unstable then my left side. This is most apparent during Garudasana. The wobble is most apparent when flowing from Garudasana to Virabhadrasana III.

In the afternoon I worked on Hatha Yoga for about an hour or so.

To begin with I started with Surya Namaskar and a Virabhadrasana III flow (just to stretch a bit.) After warming up a little I began working on Arm Balances.
The first one I worked on was Lolasana. The asana went a lot better then it had in the past. I was able to maintain my balance and practice deep breathing into my back. I found that the it helped the stability of the asana if I looked forward, rather then looking down at the mat.
Vasisthasana. was the next asana and it still needs work. It was wobbly at the wrists, and so I could not do much breathing into the asana. I was unable to lift my leg into the air without loosing balance.
After that I moved to Astavakrasana. Astavakrasana went well, well better then it has for me in the past. Oddly the right side went very well. I got my right leg above my elbow, and that made a big difference in the leg extension which followed. The left side did not go as well as the right. It was OK, but I could not get my leg to stay above my elbow. Once I did the asana went much better. I was able to breath deeply and extend the spine.
Bhujapidasana followed next. I was able to breath deeply relax and balance. Boy what a change this is for me. I am slowly seeing a change in my capacity to do balances.
Well the next asana is/was the one that I enjoyed doing least. Bakasana has always been problematic. I disliked the way my knees were always pinching my skin on my arms. I spoke to my teacher Deborah Perry owner of The Yoga Canter of Jackson. Deborah suggested that I move my knees so that they more on the outside of my elbows then behind them. This did away with the pinching which I was experiencing. Having reduces the annoyance factor I could focus on the asana. Finely I was able to perform the asana successfully. I went extremely well. I am very pleased. :)
Following this success I moved to Parsva Bakasana.> Here the right side needs some work, but the left side was not bad (though it does need work too.) The problem with the right side is that it seems to sag here. Sag is an unfortunate term, but it is accurate.

The next set of Hatha I worked on is a flow called Sarvangasana and Forward Bends. Though I am able to do all of the asanam in the flow, I am still learning the sequence. When I have it 'down' it will be a fun addition to the mix.

I finished off with the Sarvangasana Cycle. By this time I was a little tired. The series was reasonable, but not as satisfying as it generally is.

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Hatha Yoga observations.

8th October, 2008.

In the early morning I started with Surya Namaskar as well as doing a balancing flow based on Virabhadrasana III.

In the afternoon I started the session with the Virabhadrasana III flow. I now find I am able to take much deeper breaths. My whole upper ribcage seems to move very easily when I breath into my upper back.

From there I moved into arm balances. I began with

Lolasana. During this asana I noticed that there is a lot of tension in my hands. Especially in my palms. I was able to maintain my balance and breath into my back. Felt quite good.

Vasisthasana. Well I am working on it. It is a bit wobbly.

Astavakrasana. Well my right side was rubbish. I could not maintain the asana. I spent most of my focus on staying up and I could not breath deeply or relax. The left side was much more stable. I was able to work a little on breathing and relaxing.

Bhujapidasana. This was not bad, but balance is a little off. The third time paid off. I kept my arms bent while I was connecting my legs together, and then I straighten my arms. There was some breathing into my back. Yes! I worked on it for a forth time repeating what I just did, and it was much better... I could even relax a bit.

From the arm balances I moved in to some standing asanam. When I was working on

Virabhadrasana I I found that my arms and shoulders were a little tight. I suppose it a result of the work with the arm balances. I suppose I should have done Gomukasana first.
The next asanam that I have something to remark on is

Ardha Chandrasana. This asana went well. I was able to relax and breathe deeply. I found that the more I relaxed the more I could extend. Then the asana became more sturdy.


The remainder of the standing asanam and the twists that I did went well. I have increased my ability to extend and relax while in asanam. After Savasana I found that my tummy muscles were rather sore (not very,) but noticeable.

Wrangling with arm balances.

6th October, 2008.


The day started with Surya Namaskar and a

Virabhadrasana III balancing flow. Now that I have been working on the balancing flow for a few weeks. I find that I can maintain both sides quite well. Though there are days when I wobble about like a straw in an empty bottle.

In the afternoon I was able to find time to practice Hatha Yoga. My lunch was digested and my (almost) four year old was napping. I started out with Surya Namaskar and a Virabhadrasana III flow. This is not the way that I normally begin my Hatha Yoga sessions, but I wanted something different to begin with. Normally I have a series of standing asanam that I work on. I was just about to start on arm balances when I heard "Daddy, Daddy!" Well that was the end of that...

Late on in the day my daughter had a tumbling class, so I had a little time. I began with Surya Namaskar and the Virabhadrasana III flow. I quite enjoy the standing balancing asanam now. There are times when I wobble about a bit. They do give me a lovely feeling of accomplishment. These asanam also help me find more spots to work on.

After gathering all of the props (mainly pillows :) ) I began the arm balances. These still need more work. Generally I do not fall on my face any more, but from time to time, I still do.

Lolasana. This went quite well, and felt nice. I was able to breath into my upper back, filling my lungs.

Vasisthasana. I was able to manage the deep breathing into my back, but I could not manage to put my leg into the air. The arm yes, the leg no! :)

Astavakrasana. This did not go as well as the last time (yesterday). The right side was very wobbly. The left side was not too bad. On both sides I was able to extend my legs. However the right side did not feel as strong.

Bhujapidasana. This went rather well, and it was fun. I did have a pillow behind just in case. I was also able to breathe deeply into my upper back.

Bakasana. Bakasana is coming along nicely. This used to be my least favourite asana. Mainly because I would always pinch my skin on the back of my arms... quite unpleasant. Yesterday I was able to avoid doing that. I hope to repeat that today. I also was able to breath deeply into my back.

Parsva Bakasana.> This also needs work. The right side went well, but the left side was rubbish. No back breathing going on.

After the arm balances, I follow on with a series of twists. I was able to breath deeply. As I have scoliosis I have to adjust my ribs when I twist my torso. My left side is stiffer, or less free then my right side. At the end of the twists I worked on the Sarvangasana Cycle. I was able to include the deep back breathing in this cycle.

Yoga for Scoliosis with arm balances.

Wednesday 1st October, 2008.
Yoga and Scoliosis.


In the a.m. I worked on Surya Namaskar I also included a Virabhadrasana III balancing flow. Both sides of the balancing asanam went well. Sometimes one side or the other is a little wobbly.

In the afternoon I was able to get in the time to practice. Over the past couple of days my routine has been a little off. I was able to make the time, by practising while my stew was stewing. All I had to do was to check on it in between sections in my session.

When I started out there was a slight jog in my spine, but it was only a slight one.

Over the past few days I fined that the pain in the area just under shoulder blade (the rhomboids?) between the medial (vertebral) border and the inferior angle of the scapula. Ha! I said it! So that issue is one that I am working on.

As I work trough my practice today I breath deeply into my back, and adjust my ribs (up on the right side, and down on the left side.)

Into my normal mix of yoga I added some arm balances:

Lolasana. This went well, but could not adds the rib adjustment to the asana.

Vasisthasana. The asana did not go to badly, but I could on lift the leg all the way up without tipping over! :)

Astavakrasana. Astavakrasana did not go to badly, but the right side was much weaker then the left side... I am right handed too...

Bhujapidasana. Did not really work... My balance was way off... This promises to be much fun for me.

Bakasana. Just where was my balance... I think it went on holiday... Work, work!

Towards the end of this session, I was feeling a little nausious. Seems to be par for the course.

While I was working on the balancing poses my four year old was asking me what I was doing. This was while my face was hitting the bolster (for the third time) in front of me. She wanted to practice too. Fortunately I was able to get her to wait till I was doing the prone and twisting asanam.

What a session!

Observations on Tadasana plus Yoga and Scoliosis.

18th September, 2008.
Observations on Tadasana plus Yoga and Scoliosis.


I noticed that when working with Tadasana, that when I stand correctly i.e. feet together (heals apart) weight just in front of heals, toes spread, arches and knees lifted, legs active, hips and pelvis relaxed, spine relaxed and extended gently upwards, shoulders, arms and hands (by your sides, palms facing thighs) relaxed, neck extend (as a part of my spine) and relaxed, head relaxed and ears over shoulders, chin slightly tucked inwards. When this was done I noticed that I had more energetic activity in the palm my hands.

Just to see if this energetic activity in my hand was my imagination I shifted my head so that my ears were no longer over my shoulders. Thus my spine was no longer alined. When I did this the energy in my hands shifted from the palm of my hands and into my fingers. Thought I was able to detect energy in my fingers before, it was not as strong as when I moved my ears from the plain of my shoulders. The reasion for this was that when my spine went out of alignment (by moving my head) the flow of energy from the energy centre (bubbling well) in my feet were diminished. This energy centre is located just in front of your heal. It is important that you maintain good alignment, so that all of your energy centres align. That the energy centres in you feet and hand connect.

When you stand in Tadasana your body lines up and the energy flows properly. It is important that you do not strain, as that will also diminish the flow of energy in you body.


Hatha Yoga and Scoliosis.


When I started this morning I had a slight 'jog' in my lower lumbar.

I started the session out with Surya Namaskar, just for a change of pace. Though I took longer in the 'flow' so that I could make the adjustments to my spine for the scoliosis. Basically I shift my ribcage (mentally rather then jogging my shoulder up or down) so that it is more aligned then normal. I could also spend more time with the deep breathing.

From Surya Namaskar I moved into my normal practice, making allowances for my specific practice when working with Scoliosis.

Observations on some of the asanam.

Ardha Chandrasana with blocks:

The Right side was a little wobbly, but not at all bad. The left side went very well. I was quite pleased. On both sides I was able to relax (eventually on the right) and breathe deeply. I was also able to make the adjustments to my ribs.


Parivrtta Tirkonasana with blocks:

This also went well. I was able to relax quite nicely into this asana. Breathing and rib alignment were a success.


When I was doing a passive backbend over a bolster, I noticed that I was feeling rather emotional. This was about half way through the series that I was doing. I also felt a bit nausious.

At the end of the session, the 'jog' in my lower lumber was gone.


Time spent: A little over two hours.

Yoga and Scoliosis.

16th September, 2006.
Using Hatha Yoga to help my Scoliosis.

I started this morning with Surya Namaskar. I worked with my breathing and adjusted my ribs during the practice. All in all it was not very satisfying this morning, but it was ok. Well there are days like that. Just move on.

I began my Hatha Yoga session today with a slight "C" in my lower spine. In the work that I am doing to use Hatha Yoga to help with the scoliosis. I am adjusting my ribs by moving them mentally, not by moving my shoulders up and down. With my right side I am moving my ribcage upward, and my left ribcage is moved downward. From time to time I have felt nauseous during the practice, and occasionally after the practice is over. If as happens from time to time, I have to miss a few days of working on my scoliosis. I find that my left rib cage aches quite a bit.

Among the asanam I worked with today were:

A long Uttanasana with my head resting on blocks. This left me feeling rather cool when I had finished. I made an effort to breath deeply and to adjust my ribs while in this asana. It was not that easy. Especially the deep breathing.

While in Utthita Parsvakonasana I felt a little nauseous, especially while working on my left ribs.

As I moved through my practice today the "C" slowly diminished. At the end of the session I rounded it off with the Sarvangasana Cycle. I noticed that my ribs now seemingly move easily.

This session took me about 2.5 hours.

Yoga helping with Scoliosis.

9th September, 2008.
Working with Scoliosis.

While I was having my morning coffee. I noticed an aching in my ribs from the scoliosis. I had had a restless night, and I had been moving about a lot during my sleep. That my have contributed to the discomfort. To help combat the aching in my ribs, I did Surya Namaskar and that helped.

Later on in the day I had a much longer session of Hatha Yoga. I started out with Pranayama and Meditation. During this portion of the Yoga the scoliosis played up. I noticed it particularly when I was meditating, but not so much when I was doing Valoma. There really is a connection (for me) with the deeper breath, and the mitigation of the effects of the scoliosis. When I meditate I do not try to control my breath, and so my breathing is shallow (not as full) as when I work on Pranayama. Speaking (rather writing) of breathing, I was talking to my teacher Deborah about breathing the other day. She reminded me to be sure to breath into my back as well as my front. It is quite amazing how much more of a deeper breath you can get if you do that!

At the beginning of the Hatha Yoga there was a slight 'c' in my lower spine. I had a two plus hour session, and I made a point of breathing deeply into each asana as well as adjusting my ribs (mentally) for the scoliosis. Though I did have problems doing this during some of the balancing poses. During Dhanurasana I felt a little nausea, but that passed.

By the end of the Hatha Yoga my curve was much reduced.

Notes from the 4th, 5th and 6th of September, 2008.

4th September, 2008.
Hatha Yoga. Non scoliosis session.

I started the session out rather stiff, however adding deep breathing to the asanam really seems to help. :) During this practice I continued spending longer in each asana.

During Bharadvajasana I note that my right side is a lot more flexible then my left side. Deep breathing is a lot easier on the right too. When performing Bharadvajasana I can really feel the effects of the scoliosis on my body. If I do not adjust my body, i.e. adjust my right ribs upwards, and my left ribs downwards, I can not really manage the deep breathing I need to do. Nor perform the asana properly. Another point that I have picked up on is that when doing twists, it is better to start out on the right, and then do the left side. The reason for this is the location of the intestines [upper and lower colon], and the way food is processed. Apparently twisting to the right side works the higher portion of the intestine then the twisting on the left side (which works a lower portion of the intestine.) So food moves from right to left, so (as I understand it) you should twist the right side (starting from you tummy, and working the twist upward) then do the left side.

A few hours after this session the scoliosis is acting up. I wish I had been able to keep up my practice while travelling around Ohio and Virginia. I can't imagine what it must be like for people who have scoliosis really badly.

5th September, 2008.

Used Hatha Yoga to work on the Scoliosis.

I can feel a curve in my lower spine. My ribcage does not ache like it did yesterday. I started out with Pranayama and Meditation then moved on to Hatha Yoga.

The practice went well and I did not have any problems (in general) with the deep breathing generally.
Ardha Chandrasana and Virabhadrasana III went well. Though I should have started the balancing asanam earlier on in the session. Astavakrasana was not too bad. It is interesting to me that my right side is weaker then my left, given that I am right. handed. Lolasana weak, but I did it. I could not manage the deep breathing. When I got to Bakasana I was just too tired. :) So I moved on. By this point in the session the 'c' in my lower spine had mostly gone. I finished up with the Sarvangasana Cycle and Savasana.

Two and a half hours later I could feel the curve in my spine. My left ribcage aches a little from time to time. The sensation is rather like a tightness in my ribs.

6th September, 2008.

I took the day off (so to speak.) I only did Surya Namaskar in the morning. By 8 p.m. my ribs (left side) were aching quite a bit.

When I went to bed my ribcage was still aching. I noticed that if I lay flat on my back. The aching lessened. I then tried laying on my right side (left knee on right.) That was better still. I then reversed the side so I was on my left and that felt the best. The aching almost went away and I was the most comfortable. It was interesting to me that I felt the best when the presser of my body was on the ribs that were aching.

Hatha Yoga for Scoliosis later on (3rd Sept. '08.)

3rd September, 2008.

After two weeks of not doing much yoga, and none focusing on the scoliosis that I have. I had only a few session of Surya Namaskar during that period. This afternoon I was finely able to work on my scoliosis with an hour of Hatha Yoga.

At the start of the session I could feel pronounced curves in my spine. My back ached, especially my left ribcage close to the spine (in fact I still feel the ache several hours later.)

During the day, as I was out and about with my 4 year old, I was practising deep breathing. In this state I would breath from my lower abdomen all the way up to the top of my chest, and into my back. Trying to fill my lungs without lifting my shoulders up. A true deep breath.

I started out with the intention of using deep breathing as a part of my asanam practice today. The practice began with Surya Namaskar, and boy did I feel stiff. It was rather surprising to me how quickly I loosed up. Not to the same extent as if I had had uninterrupted series of Hatha Yoga sessions, but still it was pleasing.

I will not bore you with the different asanam that I went through. I will say though that Ustrasana (camel) felt especially good, and that when I followed it up with Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge) the muscles on my left side (ribcage) shuddered a little. Quite odd, but not painful. Later on when I was working on Bharadvajasana (I) I could take deeper breaths when twisting to my right side then when twisting to my left side. I also have to keep in mind to lower my shoulders during the practice.

I note that it is sometimes difficult to write after I have finished an asana. At the end of the session the lower "c" is mostly gone.

Effects of missing two weeks of Hatha Yoga on Scoliosis.

3rd September, 2008.

Over the past two weeks I have been travelling and I have not been able to practice Hatha Yoga beyond a few sessions of Surya Namaskar.

I can feel my ribs tightening up as my Scoliosis reverts to what it was before I was actively using Hatha Yoga to assuage some of the effects of the scoliosis. I note that my ribs are squeezing together. It seems that my left side is being pulled together. It does feel odd. I note that I feel a little nauseous. Mind you the nausea may just mean that I have had way too much coffee this morning. :)

So the current effects are: my left side is quite tight (as if being squashed together.)
My lower spine has more of a bulge in it.

Yoga and Scoliosis.

19th August, 2008.
Yoga for Scoliosis.

- I felt some pain in my lower latissims dorsi (the left side.) This is the pain that I associate with the scoliosis. It is not actually in the latissimus dorsi, but in that region of the ribcage. I normally experience that when I doing dishes, or something that involves having my elbows beside my ribcage, and arms from the elbows out in front of me.
- There is only a slight 'wiggle' in my lower spine.

A short while into the yoga asana I felt nauseous, and my ribs are feeling a little achy, or perhaps it is that they feel 'tight.' Later on I also note that I am feeling a little nackerd. Perhaps I am spending to long in each yoga asana? During the yoga asana I worked on deep breathing from the tummy to the top of the ribcage.

I feel like I have had a hard workout, and I can't say that I feel invigorated at all. The only new things that I did to the 'set' was to add the Sarvangasana cycle which I have done with other sets.

How much is too much? Though this session went by without any sense of it being long, it still took two and a half hours. In terms of my regular yoga asana practice, this is the longer session of the lot (there are seven 'sessions'.) Given that though, it is still getting lengthy.

I know that as a yoga teacher I am 'sharpening' my knowledge of my discipline. That I need to work to keep my vocation fresh. I do worry that by doing to much, I may find that I have to stop for a while (due to 'burnout'.) Were that to happen that would neither good for my yoga discipline nor for my scoliosis. The trick is finding the nice medium. As the time spent in each asana gets longer the whole session gets longer.

As a rule my yoga asana practice runs from one and a half to two hours per session. When I add pranayama it is longer.

My Yoga today.

Today in my yoga asana I worked on Surya Namaskar, twists and balances. The balances are getting better, but still there is a long way to go.

One of the things that I spent the whole day working on is my breath. I was/am trying to take whole breaths. Ones that go from the tummy all the way up to the top of the ribcage. It is as if I am doing Valoma, but instead of pausing during the inhalation and exhalation I breath in a normal fashion. Though if I feel restricted during this I return to 'normal' inhalation and exhalation. I am hoping to work the intercostal muscles this way, and maybe help my scoliosis.

Yoga observations.

This covers several Yoga sessions.

12th August, 2008. Yoga and Scoliosis.

The lower curve in my spine is quite evident today. I wonder why. Could it be the way that I sleep sometimes?

Lolasana using blocks and a strap :). It was hard to do while trying to adjust my ribcage.

Astavakrasana went pretty well, but I had some issues trying to do the asana and working on my ribs.

Three quarters of the way through the curve is mostly gone. Though I do feel a little nauseous, and my ribs are aching a bit.

13th August, 2008. Daily practice.

I worked on Astavakrasana as a part of my practice today. I mostly sucked (on the right side.) I think that I left it too long before working on it. I was most of the way through an hour and three quarter work out. Just to tired for it. I should do it earlier on in the session.

When I was half way though Eliz awoke from her nap. Just in time for the 'twist' portion of the session. She made it quite a few of them, before she got bored and started jumping of one of the beds. Not bad for a 3.8 year old.

My left side ribcage is not aching from the scoliosis session yesterday.

14th August, 2008. Yoga and Scoliosis.

The lower curve in my spine is just a little bit of a wiggle. Not the 'c' is sometimes is.

Remember to extend your spine during any of the "Parivrtta" as well as remembering to adjust the ribcage.

I have also found that adjusting the ribcage before doing the 'Twits' has helped me quite a bit. I note that I get a better twist on my left side then on my right side.

I felt a little nauseous a round 3/4 the way through this session.

When working on Parivrtta Janu Sirasana I felt as if my left side had 'caught' (seemingly) on my left hip. Odd.

Working with my Scoliosis.

8th August, 2008.

Yoga and Scoliosis.

There is still a slight 'jog' in my spine in the lower thoracic.

I notice that I have to work to keep my shoulders from moving along with my ribcage. I only want my ribs to move, but this is not as easy as it seems. It takes a lot of concentration I find.

During my practice today I found that I was feeling rather emotional. At other times while I have been using yoga to work on my scoliosis I found that I have felt agitated, but not 'emotional.' It was quite different. I should mention that I was also listening to the opening ceremony of the Olympics. That may be why, but I think it was due to the focus I was putting on my spine.

A yoga session and a yoga for scoliosis session.

The 7th of August, 2008.

I started out this session with plans not to work on my scoliosis today.
In my practice today I have added Bakasana (which was a little wobble, but successful) and Astavakrasana (which was a right mess, though I have done it successfully before.) :) Hah!

Generally my practice went well, but some asana still elude me (see above ;) .) I shall keep on at them.

I noted while practising that there is only a very slight curve (a bump really) in the lower part of my spinal column to show where the scoliosis lurks. Not to long ago the curve was a very nice 'bracket' which is all but gone. Using yoga to help with the scoliosis is really helping me.

Another thing that I noticed during practice today, and it is odd that I did not pick up on 'it' earlier, is that my ribcage/muscles is/are not aching, which up until recently it had done after a day or so after my scoliosis yoga practice. I hope this is a good thing. :)

The 5th of August, 2008.

Working on my scoliosis today.

When I started out this morning my left ribcage just below my shoulder blade was 'burning.' That was quite unpleasant, but not unusual. After doing a few asanam the burning went away. It still marvels me, even after thirty years of doing yoga, just how much there is to Yoga, and how it effects your body and mind.

Surya Namaskar (thoughts along the way.)

Firstly, I am not setting myself up as some type of expert on this subject, just a yogi looking for some answers. :)

I practice Surya Namaskar almost every morning now. I find that my body enjoys it, and that it is invigorating. On that level it is very good and serves a satisfies purpose.

However I do not find that I get the spiritual (if you will) nourishment that I do with traditional non-flow Hatha Yoga. Where you may hold each asana for several minuets. There are yogis and yoginies [spl?.] I know who love practising Surya Namaskar. I am not there yet. I suppose in part it is that I have been doing traditional non-flow Hatha Yoga for almost thirty years. Where as I have only been doing Surya Namaskar for just over a year.

Surya Namaskar has a long and well establish tradition. I would like to learn more about it as I journey along. It is not something which I am going to let go of now that it is a part of my practice.

One thing that does worry me is the increased risk of injury. As one transitions from one asana to another there is a much greater risk of injuring oneself. I know that it is posable to injure oneself getting in and out of an asana in traditional non-flow yoga. There is a difference though. In the traditional method (as I have been taught, and practice) after the completion of an asana one returns to Tadasana, pausing for a moment then moving on to the next asana.

The important point being that you pause. It is at the point of the pause that your nervous system takes in what has just happened to 'it', and what is now going on with your body. The body and mind store the information for the next time you practice the posture. Then you move on to the next asana. If you are constantly moving from one asana to another, does that process happen? I don't know?

If during a 'flow' (because of the nature of flow, you may hold the asana for only a breath of two before moving on) you have place yourself structurally incorrectly and you move then onto another asana don't you run a greater chance of hurting yourself?

If any one who reads this has any thoughts, please let me know.

Using yoga to help with scoliosis.

1st August, 2008.

One of the things that I notices is that my spine seems to be a lot more agile these days. During the practice I find that I can get much more out of my asana if I pause between sides (do right, pause, and then the left side.)


In Parivrtta Parsvakonanasa I can get much more space in my torso if I adjust my ribcage for the scoliosis.

Three quarters away through the practice I felt a little nauseous, but after a short while it passed.


While doing Urdhva Dhanurasana I had a hard time holding the asana while shifting my ribs.
You have to be very careful when moving your spine in backbends.

Just another test.

I hope this work is worth it...

Using Yoga to help with Scoliosis.

Just testing...