Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga: Short arms and "catching" poses

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Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga:
Short arms and "catching" poses

emily
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Dec 10, 2002, 10:27 AM

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Hello,

I have a general question on whether arm length might impede someone's ability to perform the full versions of poses like malasana, pasasana, or matsyendrasana. For me, poses in which you "catch" your arms behind your back have always been challenging. I understand about modifying them using a belt and have had some success with that. My arms, shoulders, and back are very flexible, so I don't know where I'm stuck.

I was looking at some pictures of Mr. Iyengar and Geeta performing these poses and also standing in tadasana. With all due respect, I was struck by how long their arms appear to be in relation to the rest of their frame.

Could shorter arms, such as mine(!), be a factor in an inability to do these poses? I am just curious to learn what anyone else thinks about this idea, either if you can confirm it, or if you think the idea is just silly (or somewhere in between!). On a practical level, I want to guage how much hope I have for achieving the final poses. In other words, if do I have a physiological limitation to performing them fully, I might concentrate on developing in the "intermediate" stages.

Does anyone know if arm length could be a factor in these "catching" poses?

many thanks!
emily

nagrajm
Regular

Dec 10, 2002, 1:11 PM

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I do not know how you could determine that your arms were short.

In my opinion, for a normal person, the length of extremities would be proportional to his/her height. However, one could not say that about his/her frame. If your frame is broader and more volumnous in proportion to the length of your arms, it would certainly be more challanging to catch your arms behind or around your back.

When I stand in Tadasana, my arms reach almost mid-way the femur (thigh bone). How about you?

Unless, your arms are abnormally short, I do not think your arm length would be an impediment.

The poses that you have listed as being difficult to perform are definitely very challenging. They are difficult poses that demand great strength and flexibility to achieve. Especially, pasasana requires great strength and balance apart from flexibility.

I do not know how long you have been doing yogasanas regularly but believe me it takes at least 3-5 years of regular practice to achieve the poses that you have described. In my opinion, your arm length is definitely not a factor.

I would invite your attention to a short article on this website written by BKS Iyengar on his life where he has emphasized that it takes, sometimes decades to achieve perfection that doesn't come even in years. The constitution of every person is different, some being less flexible than others requiring different strategy for practice. Don't pressurize yourself into doing it in a short period of time. Give yourselves a lot of time.

I would encourage you to keep going till suddenly one day, you will see it wasn't your arms that was short coming and lo and behold you've done it!!

emily
Regular

Dec 11, 2002, 7:42 AM

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Re: Short arms and "catching" poses [In reply to]	Can't Post

You are wonderful to respond, and very patient too! (since you were also a respondent to my initial malasana question...)

Since you asked Wink

, in tadasana, my arms only reach a third of the way down the femur. That's why I think I'm short-armed.

However, I've only been practicing these poses regularly for a year, so I will be persistent.

Another challenge is marycyasana, where I can catch but cannot bend forward. Perhaps this is hip and ankle flexibility, since I can fully do other forward bends. In reply to my malasana post, "spangled" said that hip flexibility is involved, which I am sorely lacking.

Thank you again for the encouragement. I would be interested to hear what any others think of this question, too!

emily.

michellet
Enthusiast

Dec 13, 2002, 3:29 AM

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I agree with Nagram in that one should not focus too much on body differences (such as length of arms /legs/ flat feet--which I have, etc.), but--instead, one should practice practice with persistence--practicing just to practice without being overly driven to get to the final pose--being patient. However, I think it is definitely true that all bodies are different, and different bodies have an easier time with some poses and a harder time with others. Though these differences should not discourage, I am sure that arm length and leg length (or shortness) affects a pose and , perhaps, how you work in it and what exactly you focus on in the pose, but such things do not have to be thought of as impediments, rather as part of the practice-- and each person's practice is , in many regards, very personal. But I don't think one should assume that a body difference can make a particular pose impossible-- that is when the mind begins to limit the practice, don't you think?

Phill
New User

Dec 28, 2002, 10:38 AM

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I do believe that there are subtle differences in body sizes that make some poses more or less accessible to us. I am tall but quite short-legged, for example. However, these differences in length will not ULTIMATELY impede us in our practice. They may make it more difficult to achieve certain forms of some poses. I too find catching difficult and I too believe that I am short of limb, despite being five feet eight inches tall - my arms reach only one-third way down my femur too! But I also believe that my shoulders, back, chest and hips need to open more - which I know will happen one day - and then I will be able to catch in more poses and with more confidence. Don't give way to ambitiona and impatience - it is so easy to let pride take over our practice as we strive to complete a pose as it is in a book or as practised by another. That way lies injury too. Use the belt or just move the arms towards each other - that gap will one day close for both of us! namaste

spangled
Novice

Jan 13, 2003, 8:21 AM

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Re: Short arms and "catching" poses [In reply to]	Can't Post

Two things come to mind -

1) I read somewhere once that the hard rubber rings used in swimming pool games can be used as an alternative to a belt. I believe they come in different sizes. I've never seen one but they sound like the sort of large rings you give a dog to chew... They might offer a more positive grip than a belt if you are nearly there.

2) I found an interesting malasana beginner's approach/variation this morning. Squat with the feet about 12 inches apart (or whatever's comfortable). Have the back of the upper arm pressing the upper shin, and stand on the entire palms of the hands as in padahastasana 2 (?). This way you can push back on the shins (opening the hips) and pull your head and torso down towards the feet at the same time. It also increases the stretch at the ankle.

It's no good if your ankle flexibility will not allow, perhaps prop heel?

VBuxbaum
New User

Jan 14, 2003, 6:50 PM

Post #7 of 10 (3919 views)
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Hey spangled, nice to see you here!
Those rings sound interesting. Its always good to find new ways to use everything available as a yoga prop! Cool

spangled
Novice

Jan 14, 2003, 9:40 PM

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ho ho, wondered if I'd be spotted!

VBuxbaum
New User

Jan 14, 2003, 10:04 PM

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Fraid so Spangled Wink

This forum looks like it could use a bit more life to it. Doesn't look like there is alot of traffic so its nice to see a familiar face out here in the boonies as it were.

spangled
Novice

Jan 15, 2003, 1:25 AM

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Victor

Well I sort of feel I can be here because my teacher's Iyengar trained originally, even though he's been a student of Shandor for many years now. And Shandor started as an Iyengar student too.

I'm Reading Light on the Yoga Sutras now. I bought LoY when I started practising at home. Just the introduction did it for me.

Look they've even got a emoticon for the Great Man! Eyebrows'n'all. Mad

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