Do This Not That: Poses Everyone Does Wrong And How To Fix Them
How To Fix These Common Mistakes
Whether you are a beginner or and advanced yogi, there is always room for improvement. Yoga is about continuous improvement. This is why Yoga is so popular. The sky is the limit when it comes to how far you can go. While we are always looking to improve, many of us still make noticeable mistakes and we may not even be aware that we are doing something wrong.
The following article examines some commonly incorrect poses that happen during a typical yoga session and how they can be easily corrected. Review these poses below and be sure to share this with all of your friends are interested in perfecting their practice.
by Erin Motz
1) Downward Facing Dog.
It’s easier to “dump” the weight forward because it takes the work out of the back and hamstrings, but when we lean too far forward, the wrists can strain, the spine compresses, and the rhythm of breath isn’t as fluid. Instead, be sure to elongate the hamstrings by pressing back through the heels, tilting the pelvis up, and press the floor away with the hands to elongate the spine. Also, let’s nip this in the bud once and for all: your heels do NOT have to touch the floor for this pose to be “correct.” There, I said it!
2) Standing Forward Fold.
One of the most common mistakes I see in yoga classes is trying to fold from the waist. This will definitely compress the discs in the spine as well as limit your breath which will make you more prone to injury. Instead, fold from the crease in the hips and keep a slight bend in the knees if your hamstrings are highly restricted. It doesn’t matter how far down you can fold, but how intact you can keep the posture.
3) Revolved Chair.
I just love this pose. I do it often but even I have to catch myself with some tweaks almost every time! It makes the twist feel easier to let the pelvis fall out of symmetry and pop one knee in front of the other. But don’t fall in to temptation! Keep the hips level, keep the knees in the same line, and twist lightly through the center. Everyone will have different depths to which they can twist, so don’t take this as the single “correct” look. One thing that helps me get the most out of this is to drop my butt nice and low while maintaining that form.
Be sure to identify what is working and what is not working in your practice and make the proper corrections to fix any mistakes you are making. Progress is achieved one step at a time.
To your health and wellness!
Click here for the full article from erinmotz.com
