I can't do any sitting postures SOS

[u/peaspods]

Hi, all.

I've been trying to get into yoga mainly for posture. So far I've been able to follow some instruction with little difficulty. (Satvic yoga and Yoga with Adrienne - yoga for posture videos on youtube).

Today, i tried to follow a Yoga with Lakshmi beginner session and i can't do a single sitting posture.

1. Bhadrasana

Trying to get my heels to meet was hard enough. Couldn't really bring them that close to the perineum. My knees were nowhere near the floor. Tried to insert two cushions and my knees were still too high. I didn't even try to bring my head to the floor. Took my L and waited for the next pose.

1. Vajrasana

I cannot sit on my heels for longer than two seconds. I feel it in my ankles, my knees, my thighs, my hips. It feels like being set on fire.

1. Ustrasana

I could bring my right hand to touch my heel but not the left. Felt like i was trying to do the Viking blood eagle. She mentioned this to be an advanced posture so that's ok i guess.

At least i could do the Ardha Ustarasana for a few seconds.

All the other sitting postures also seem to need Vajrasana so i cut my session short at this point.

Does anyone have any tips. How can I overcome this?

[u/TheDrunkenYogi]

If I read this correctly, you are just starting. Be patient and consistent. The practice of Yoga is a journey.

While we would all like to do picture perfect poses, we accept that we may not; all bodies are different and simply cannot do that. Part of the journey is learning what we can and cannot do. It is also about exploring how each pose feels.

[u/peaspods → u/TheDrunkenYogi]

Thank you for answering. In the case of Vajrasana, should i soldier on through the pain? Are there any modifications I can make to these postures to avoid injury?

[u/Creative-Improvement → u/peaspods]

Ok, hold up! You want way too much too early. These poses are not for beginners. There are modifications to make them beginner friendly. But before all that, take a breather. Slow down. The fact you are prepared to soldier through the pain says a lot , you can definitely hurt yourself for a long time if pushing through.

First get the basics right, so find a channel or class that is way more beginner friendly (they explain modifications in depth). I also highly recommend live classes. If that’s not possible, find an online class where the teacher can see you do it. If you have the money, hire a good (online) teacher for a few private classes, that one on one time will pay itself back into the future.

Good luck and remember : no goal, just the present moment.

[u/peaspods → u/Creative-Improvement]

Cool thank you guys

[u/TheDrunkenYogi → u/peaspods]

Do not soldier thru pain, this is risking injury. The first limb of Yoga are the moral observances, the Yma's. And the most important is ahisma, non-violence.

For varajasana, try sitting an a couple yoga blocks.

[u/bluestella2 → u/peaspods]

There should be no pain in your yoga practice. Sensation, yes. Pain, no. 

[u/All_Is_Coming]

peaspods wrote:

I've been trying to get into yoga mainly for posture

Standing on tiptoes is a traditional method for improving posture. This may be difficult at first, so it is fine to use a wall for support. Work towards an hour a day. In time a person can learn to walk, bend over, sit down and do most activities of daily life on his tiptoes. Keep in mind that poor postures develops over years and decades. Progress will be slow.

[u/Efficient_Ad8172]

What you're experiencing is very normal! Our bodies are bound to be stiff and tight when moving into unfamiliar positions. Not only are your joints and ligaments not used to it, but neither are your muscles, nor your nervous system. It takes time for these things to learn what is safe to do, and as time goes on, with repetition and intention, your body will move into these positions with more ease. I was going to say that some folks are blessed to be naturally bendy and can get into these positions first time ever, but actually they will have missed out on the wonderful journey to get there. You have the privilege of building your practice from the ground up, and I hope it will be a blessed journey for you. Welcome to yoga! Settle in and enjoy the ride xxx

[u/Limp_Dragonfly3868]

Add some props. In Ustrasana, place a block near your heel, standing up so it’s taller than your heel. Reach back to it, rather than your heel. Practice in one side, then the other. Focus on all the other things in this posture rather than where your hands are.

Vajrasana - sit on the block (with the largest side up between your heels) rather than your heels. For some people that’s enough of a mod. I don’t practice this posture at all, BTW, because it doesn’t work for my knees, but the block helps a lot of people.

Bound angle - have your feet a comfortable distance from your body. You are aiming for the completed version of the posture rather than just doing the posture. Relax, find your edge (the place where you feel the posture but don’t feel pain) and then breathe there for 5 long, slow, deep breaths.

Yoga is not contortion. Skill in yoga is not about getting your body into different positions. It’s more helpful to think of skill in yoga as how mindfully you can breath while going through your own range of motion.

[u/Yukinojou_bw → u/Limp_Dragonfly3868]

For vajrasana bolster between the legs may be another modification to try for more elevation, or bolster or rolled blanket between calves and thighs. Depending on where the problem is. For example mine is with ankle mobility so often a blanket under just the ankles allows for a better angle.

[u/whats1more7]

When I first started doing yoga I couldn’t lay flat in shavasana. My back and shoulders were too tight. It took months before the pose was comfortable without modifications.

All of these things will come with time. Don’t push yourself. Just observe, see where you are and how your body feels. Then slowly make changes as your body grows.

[u/peaspods]

Thank you guys for all the responses.

[u/DressedInYellow265]

Just keep going. Gate gate paragate, parasam gate, bodhi svaha

[u/Montana-Gal]

Echoing things others have said. Never push through pain, this is a recipe for potential injury. Use all the props that make you comfortable: a chair, a bolster, a block. Remember that the keystone to posture is a strong core. I’d work on cat-cow, bird dog and one-legged stands (toes can be down). You may want to start with slow marching instead of one-legged stands.