I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago and starting practicing the Pacifying Series. I love the series and feel awesome every time I do it. However, I have trouble performing number 34, the Side Raised Leg Pose. I have trouble finding the balance and tend to fall over a lot. At best I can hold this pose the wrong way by putting more weight on my bent leg side; this way I can feel the stretch in my straight leg, but I never hold it for very long because I can feel how unbalanced my weight distribution is. Also, I will sometimes lose the grip on my heel cup and fall over. I can perform the other two similar poses just fine (33 and 35), as well as the rest of the poses in the series. I only have trouble with number 34.
Are there any other poses that could give the leg a similar stretch, or any other modifications I could do to ease into performing the pose as intended eventually? Is there anyone out there who has used this book, gone through this series, and can perform this pose? Any advice on what has helped you with this pose would be of great help.
I love this book and plan to go through every series over the next few months. How did I know about this book?...the 30BaD Yoga forum. Thanks Yogis and Yoginis.
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I would also add that he has written a few different books. I am not at home right now, so cannot confirm which of his earliest books I am specifically recommending, but I am pretty sure it is Elements of Yoga, if it is not that one, then it is probably Hatha Yoga. If you have a book store that stocks these books, be sure to have a look through them. The one I am recommending talks a lot about his method specifically he has broken the practice of yoga into different components. Once component is Space, another if I remember correctly is something like Form, or Structure, and the third is the Dynamic aspect which I think he calls Fire.
The reason I am mentioning this, is that he talks about some very basic ideas that will apply to all asana, and then also describes many asana in detail. By doing this he helps both beginner and experienced yogis, understand more fully what it is they are doing, and what it is they may be missing when it comes to their practice.
Hopefully this will help you understand what you can do to get the most out of each asana, and help you move effectively towards being able to progress. I really recommend both of these books to complement Dynamic Yoga, sorry if I can't be more specific about which of the books I think will help you most, but as I say I do not have access to them to reference them and it has been quite a few years since I have used them myself. I could also recommend quite a few other books as well, but am not sure where you are at in your practice and what sort of explanations you are looking for. Off the top of my head Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by David Coulter, is a good one as well as Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy by Gregor Maehle is also very good.
Good luck,
S.
Right on Shanti, yeah the books are Hatha Yoga Breath by Breath and Elements of yoga. The Hatha one presents Godfrey's ullolas. He uses this term to describe moving in and out of the same pose back and forth like a wave (ullola). It is an extremely powerful way to explore poses and to learn true breath body synchronization. The second book is Elements of Yoga which is a good primer on yoga in general and its different approaches as well as the basics of yoga through the lens of the elements.
One last tip. Instead of holding the heel try wrapping your fingers around the front of the shin. With a firm grip lift the leg this way. It will be easier to straighten and you'll get most of the benefits.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing in the beginning of the book as well. Thank you for your speedy response. I will put your helpful tips into tomorrow's routine!
Ryan, I commend you on getting this book. It is amazing. Be advised that Godfrey feels he has changed a lot since writing this. Still the opening is packed with excellent perspectives on yoga. Simply reading the front of the book before you get to the poses sheds light on many misunderstood aspects of yoga. As to the pose you are working on. I wouldn't be so concerned with straightening the leg. Most likely it is the straightening of the elevated leg that is making you unbalanced. Use the bandhas as a guide. That is what you want to keep applied. The straightening of the leg is irrelevant. If you keep practicing, in time, it will straighten. As long as I was practicing I could never fully straighten my leg. But I started late, you're probably younger. Also this pose and its variations is an excellent pose. Just notice the quality of the back as you try to straighten your leg. As soon as the quality of the back is compromised in even a subtle way, you have straightened the leg too far. And be careful about putting too much weight on the bent leg, it could mess up your knee. Enjoy.