The shala was almost empty this morning, the aftermath of a night of people watching votes being counted? Who knows… it was good for me as I there was plenty of room for my flailing around and lots of adjustments 
Unfortunately, it was one of the pensioner type practices where I felt as stiff as a board; neither strong nor flexible. I’ve started getting twinges from the sacrum, just after one little baddha konasana. The old familiar nervy sensations when coming out of prasarita padatonasnana, doing the janus and jumping out of bhuja pidasana.
I contemplated just practicing to garbha pindasana, but decided that that would never get me past the baddha K issues, so went for it anyway. I had a gentle adjust and didn’t really get my head anywhere near the floor. It’s a start anyway. I just need to get my head around not wanting to have everything back at once! Typically though, I have been trying to analyse why I seem so incapable of doing baddha K? Where is the flexibility supposed to be coming from anyway and what can I do to improve it without actually doing Baddha K? I’ll go and grab Gregor Maehle’s book in a moment, I dug it out yesterday but went to sleep before actually reading it!
May 7, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Mr Maehle says that it is chronic tension of the adductors which prevents most students from going deeply into the posture. Ok, I’m happy with that.
He goes on to state that this is often due to emotions such a fear, pain and shame held on to in these muscles…. not so sure about that part?!
So, how to get over chronic tension of the adductors?
May 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Hi Clare, I sit in Badhakonasana, everyday for ten minutes (back against the wall) with my cuppa while I wake up. It responds well to longer holds, although I would build up gradually to 10 minutes if your not used to it, especially if it is causing you problems. Maybe you should ask for no adjustment for a while, even if they are gentle?
May 8, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Hi Helen!
When H is back at the shala I’ll ask him not to adjust me! I was hoping that I would ‘grow’ out of it, but it has been a problem since going to YT in January 2007! I’ll try the wall thing though, obviously this isn’t something that will resolve quickly!