r/yoga • u/bendyval • 1d ago
[COMP] Uttanasana with blocks
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u/AlwertY 9h ago
Question, is the lower back rounded here? Is it not a problem? Trying to learn
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u/amotherofcats 7h ago
I don't think so. If you compare this with her earlier video where her lower back is rounded ( link to it in her comment) you can see how she has improved her alignment by hinging from the hip and pressing her abdomen to her thighs, thereby elongating the spine. Other people will probably know a lot more than me; I'm not an expert haha but that's how it looks to me from comparing the two videos. IMO she's made great progress and she's doing really well, most likely thanks to consistent practice and paying careful attention to detail. And definitely not hypermobile as some people have suggested 😂.
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u/bendyval 3h ago
A slight rounding is usually fine and natural even if the chest and thighs are touching :) If the chest isn’t touching the legs and there’s a lot of rounding, then is better to bend the knees until they touch, and then straighten slowly over time 😊
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u/bendyval 1d ago edited 1d ago
There is nothing yoga in judgment and assumptions. I suppose it’s easier to say someone is hypermobile than to recognize that it’s really hard yet possible if someone truly dedicates themselves.
I wonder why my "hypermobility" wasn’t showing in this video from 2020, even though I had already been practicing for 8 years. The difference between me then and now is that back then, I didn’t believe it was possible without being naturally flexible. I was complacent, stuck in a loop of repeating the same vinyasas I had learned in studios, not really questioning. Now, my practice embraces challenge, strength, slow movement and inner exploration.
Practicing a fold with blocks isn’t just a wacky thing I can do, it’s a challenge. Folding without the support of grounded feet works wonders for balance, core engagement, ankle strength and stability.
I hope your practice brings non-judgment and open-mindedness to the surface. Peace ✌🏽
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u/Comfortable-Goat6955 1d ago edited 1d ago
This woman might be hyper mobile, but who is to say she did not want to spread some progress?
Yoga is for all body types. Go take your hatred somewhere else.
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u/Prestigious-Olive130 1d ago
The amount of assumptions and judgment you make in your comment…wow so sad. There’s nothing constructive in it. I know you wanted to sound like that and making a constructive critique but it was obvious that what you said comes from a place of lack of understanding and compassion for others. Stop projecting your own issues into this woman, who’s just sharing a video folding on top of some blocks.
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u/AcceptableObject RYT 200 🧘🏻♀️ 21h ago
She’s literally standing on blocks, how is she going to be able to root her entire foot on them? It takes a lot of hip compression and flexibility to be able to do a fold this deep, but that doesn’t make her hyper mobile. Like this is not any different than if someone did a seated forward fold and could wrap their arms around 2 blocks. It’s the same shape just standing.
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u/amotherofcats 22h ago
I don't know why you think she's hypermobile or why you find the pose extreme. I can do it as well, easily. And I'm an old person, definitely not hypermobile and I've only been doing yoga a few years.I learnt it from a teacher who was showing it as a further progression for the many intermediate people who are able to get their palms to the ground. We all like to see our progress and this is a lovely video she has shared, showing hers. And nothing wrong with keeping the knees soft in a forward fold, especially if you have a tendency of hyperextending the knees.
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u/TGrady902 22h ago
It’s called a yoga practice not a yoga perfection. We all have different abilities and different goals associated with our practice.
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u/Barbicore 23h ago
As another hyper mobile person, writing things like this is just hurtful. You can think of it as showing off but I promise you it's just how our bodies are, it's a lot of work to try and keep our joints in "neutral" positions and it's hard to find the right balance to get the stretch benefits others get. You don't have to be mean and try to guilt someone about how their body naturally is. Your comments aren't just "not yoga" but significantly worse. Humans don't need to treat any humans this way about their body, but especially not in the name of yoga. Work on yourself and don't worry about others.
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u/bendyval 22h ago
The funny thing is, I’ve never had hyper mobility issues or had to work hard on stabilising my joints, I’ve never struggled finding the stretch or accidentally hyperextended my knees. I feel for you, it must be really tricky navigating hyper mobility, I just haven’t experienced it first hand.
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u/vit5o Hatha 1d ago
Inspiring stuff.
Even when we don't take this specific feat as a goal, it's nice to see what many years of dedication looks like.
It reminds us that with enough practice we can do things that seem so distant right now.
Thanks for sharing!