Yoga Strength

Question:

Hi, In Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, it is the norm to "warm up" with several sun salutations.  I know I certainly feel a difference in my flexibility between the first and the last sun salutation! Even if you are not practising this style of yoga, I imagine sun salutations will be something you might want to do occasionally to warm up.  In my Iyengar classes, we sometimes did sun salutations near the beginning of class, sometimes not … If I am not warmed up, I am a little more careful when I attempt poses, as I know that I am not as flexible when I am not hot. Good luck in your practise, Tanya – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – just wondering what kind of warm-ups you do before beginning a seesion of Hatha yoga.. It helps to warm-up so that the muscles are warm and pliable… does anyone skip the warm-up entirely? what’s the "rule"?   are you supposed to be able to do the asanas without warming up? thanks for any insight…

Response:

just wondering what kind of warm-ups you do before beginning a seesion of Hatha yoga.. It helps to warm-up so that the muscles are warm and pliable… does anyone skip the warm-up entirely? what’s the "rule"?   are you supposed to be able to do the asanas without warming up? thanks for any insight…

Response:

"sabre" writes: just wondering what kind of warm-ups you do before beginning a seesion of Hatha yoga.. It helps to warm-up so that the muscles are warm and pliable…

Whether you are sitting cross-legged or doing standing poses, attention must be paid to the feet.  So if one was to do a *warm-up* in the western sense of the word, start with the feet. There are many things to this end: massage, various "flexes".   Ankle rolls are nice, best done with the fingers interwoven between the toes of the opposing foot. And if this seems inappropriate, just lie on the floor and breathe and consider which parts of the body seek your attention, and breathe into those spaces. does anyone skip the warm-up entirely?

Some days one merely hears the music in the air, and devotion in the heart makes warm-up redundant. what’s the "rule"?   are you supposed to be able to do the asanas without warming up?

With regular practice the "warmth and pliability" of the body is more lasting. (Though get back to me in January and we’ll see just how lasting .) thanks for any insight…

I thank my feet. .James I accept the clangor and jangle of contrary tendencies.    -Emerson

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