I can't sit up straight when i am sitting on the floor.

There are often many questions about Yin Yoga and specific spinal conditions. Feel free to ask your question here, or check out other posts or contribute input from your own experience.
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yoga-is-my-last-hope
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:21 pm

I can't sit up straight when i am sitting on the floor.

Post by yoga-is-my-last-hope »

I see all of these people that can sit on the floor with their heels together and lean forward. When i sit on the floor in this position, i have to have my hands behind my back to hold myself up. Even trying to sit up straight causes tension in my muscles. I guess i am just way to inflexible.

Could someone recommend a yoga video fro flexibility so that i can sit up straight over time without holding myself up with my hands behind my back?

Thank you for any advice you can give!
Bernie
Posts: 1293
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:25 am
Location: Vancouver

Sitting on the floor

Post by Bernie »

There is an old-yogic piece of wisdom: to excel at a particular yoga posture (like Butterfly), do that posture! If you want to be able to sit on the floor comfortably, start sitting on the floor all the time. There is a Newsletter article I wrote a while back that addresses most of your questions: it is called The Sit Rise Test. Read it. It is good.

Basically, you need to answer the question - what is stopping me? Why can’t you sit comfortably on the floor. The answer will be either tension in your muscles and fascia or tightness or compression in your joints, or a combination of both. Yes, you may be inflexible - but why? Knowing the answer will help you know what to do about it. But let’s assume it is tightness in the joints: specifically the hips, and to a lesser degree, the lower spine. Sitting on the floor when you read, when you watch TV, when your talk on the floor will open and strengthen your hips and lower back. It you are on the computer a lot, put it on your coffee table and get down there. Eat at your coffee table. While you are on the floor, change positions every 3 ~ 4 minutes: mix it up. Do Butterfly, Half-Butterfly, Caterpillar, Straddle, Sphinx … work towards Shoelace and Square Pose over time. [You can look up all these postures, including some videos of them, here.]

It won't take too long: after a few months of living on the floor you will be amazed at the difference. (But please remember: you can do too much of anything - if at any time this becomes painful, then back off. Start slow and work towards your goal.)

I hope this helps!
Bernie
yoga-is-my-last-hope
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:21 pm

Post by yoga-is-my-last-hope »

thanks for the info...i'll be sure to keep this in mind as i do yoga.
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