I meant to post this yesterday, but AT&T was acting like a toddler being offered a spoonful of pureed brussels sprouts. Anyhow: Emmy Cleaves has twice talked about my most challenging asana, the Tree Pose. She says the Big Three of Bikram Yoga success are Tree Pose, working with Intensity, and working with precision. Dammit. Yesterday Emmy said that if you can't hold Tree Pose, don't bother taking the Advanced Bikram classes, since many of the asanas are based on the Lotus pose (which, like the Tree, relies on one foot being placed on the upper thigh of the other leg). Dammit again. I stood up and asked her what those of us with rather primitive Tree Poses should do. In matter-of-fact Latvian tones, Emmy said, "Well . . . keep at it, you know."
In the following class with Himself, I made extra effort to bring my bent leg down during Tree. I still resemble a diving board when viewed from the side. But keep at it I shall, and I must say I'm relieved to know I can still teach this yoga without being an advanced yoga practitioner. Yet.
Hi. When you say 'those who can't do tree'? Does that mean those that must still hold their leg?. .. or those who can't bring their knee parallel? I am just wondering how much harder I should work at tree here. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was "frequency, intensity, and precision"!! Haha.
ReplyDeleteTree pose is like my worst posture and I still do advanced series. I used to do it with Emmy in LA. Mind you, it took me somewhere in the ballpark of 5 years to let go of my foot in tree, and I still can only do it if I'm nice and lose and my knees are happy. Don't stress it. You can't really "work harder" in tree - the dialogue says "slowly, gently" for a reason!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKirsten, as far as I understand it, if you can bring your both hands to namaste position *AND* your bent knee is pointing down to the ground, you've got the proper tree pose. At present I resemble a diving board--my knee is practically parallel to the floor (and yes, I do have to hold my foot every time, too). I'm working hard on getting more flexibility in my hip sockets, but it's slow work in my case. Extremely slow. My home studio teachers advise trying to let go of the foot and see what happens . . . although all that happens to me is my bent leg straightens like a switchblade. But as Emmy would say, well, keep at it, you know.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys :) I'll keep at it.
ReplyDeleteI did the advanced series last June without having a very advanced Tree Posture (ie. still had to hold my leg and my bent leg is not parallel). It felt like a bit of a waste while doing Lotus poses, especially the day when that series was our focus. It wasn't a total write off - there were still lots of poses I could attempt that many couldn't. I will wait to do the advanced classes here in Saanich until I have progressed further in my Lotus pose but don't even rule out attending the advanced class again. Its a great week if you aren't quite up to Teacher Training yet.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant to say I did the advanced seminar in Las Vegas with Bikram not the advanced series (as a non teacher I wouldn't have been invited without having done the advanced seminar.
ReplyDelete