“Yoga is about freedom-freedom of movement, thoughts and energetic flow.” ~ Ray Long, MD, FRCSC
“I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible.” I have heard this several times over the years from people when they explain why the can’t possibly try yoga. I always find it funny because the yoga is not about your flexibility. Yoga is about getting in touch with your body and breath. Yes, one of the products of a strong yoga practice is more flexibility as is more strength and an overall sense of well-being. I do understand where this attitude comes from. There are countless images of yogis twisted into impossible shapes, which is intimidating to a beginning or even an advanced practitioner. However, flexibility of the body is not the only ingredient required to achieve these seemingly impossible shapes. One needs discipline first, which will create the strength needed to gain flexibility. Exploring the petrification of the body and mind using the combination of breath and yoga postures, or asanas, will turn your tight and closed off body into an open, strong form.
As a yoga teacher, the students I have most concern for are the hyper-mobile ones, not the tight people who can’t touch their toes. The tight people will never stretch too far and hurt themselves. However, when someone has too much flexibility and not enough strength injury incurs. So, it is very important to gain strength first and foremost. In each and every pose, except for Savasana, or relaxation, all muscles should be engaged. Hugging the muscles onto the bones will ensure that you will not stretch too far too fast.
Ray Long, MD, FRCSC, writes about reciprocal inhibition in his book entitled Anatomy for Vinyasa Flow and Standing Poses. Reciprocal inhibition is the relationship between two opposing muscles. In other words, one muscle contracts to move a joint, while another muscles relaxes and stretches during the action. An example of this is when the leg is straight in a standing position and you lift your kneecap. The action of lifting the kneecap engages the quadricep in turn lengthening the opposing muscle, in this case the hamstring. According to Long, when the brain signals one muscle to contract it simultaneously signals the opposing muscle to relax. Engagement of the muscles, or muscle energy, is an important concept to master as a yoga practitioner because it serves to protect the muscle tension from rising to a level that might tear the tendon from the bone.
Flexibility is a byproduct of yoga, not a prerequisite. As long as you use common sense during your practice you won’t force your body into places its not ready to go yet. Focus your attention on the muscles you are working and this will improve your postures as well as your state of mind.
Natalie Hain, has over 500 hours of yoga training specializing in alignment, tantrik philosophy and ayurveda. She currently teaches in Blanco at Gem of the Hills and Casa de Yoga and in San Marcos at Blazing Heart Yoga and Red Dawg Hot Yoga. Natalie is available for private and small group classes. Please contact her at nattyoga8@gmail.com with questions or to set up a session.
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