Thursday, September 11, 2008

Bow Pose - Pinky Toes Rotated In?

Hello. Based on the reading and classes, I recall instruction for pinky toes being rotated in for Bow Pose. Does anyone know if this is correct? And if the "objective" of the asanas are for neutrality, how is this consistent with such objective? Also shy wouldn't this put undue pressure on the knees? Thanks!

3 comments:

ninatandon said...

hi Steve are you talking about Urdhva Dhanurasana (when you're head is towards the floor?) or when your stomach is on the floor?

I think that this action could make sense for Urdhva Dhanurasana. It sounds to me like the action of pinky rotation might be a counter movement designed to keep the knees tracking over the toes because the knees and/or feet may tend to splay out in this pose.

Sounds like a good question for class though (definitely not BTS! heheheh)

Jordana - New York, NY said...

i think the tendency in urdhva dhanurasana is to splay your toes out, which is bad. so maybe by pointing pinky toes out, it counteracts the natural tendency to splay out creating neutral? I could be completely off there.. just my 2 cents

Jordana

sabinelarue said...

hi steve. if you are either in bow or in upward bow, the tendency is likely to be that you will splay the knees. this might put undue pressure on the low back ( because you are leaving no room for the tailbone to lengthen, its getting squeezed in). so i guess if you twirl the pinky toes in you get the opposite effect. i would choose, however, to guide the action from the thighs and pelvis as opposed to the tiny pinky toes. that way you could keep the knees from torquing. bow pose and urdhva D will be more deeply investigated in the coming weeks. yours, sarah