Becoming bendy is actually easier than starting bendy and becoming strong.

Bakasana is my nemesis pose.

It's a physics problem. If you go forward, shoulders past wrist and keep looking forward not down, you'll have a great chance of going up. The problem is that your butt needs to be counterbalanced with the rest of your body so you have to move way far to the front, almost uncomfortably so. Also, try on two blocks and you'll have to go forward less.

The reason I couldn't be a yoga teacher is because I would never want to talk the hokum yoga talk about energy flow and that shit or even alignment. Instead, I say things like, One's ass is huge. If you want to be in a handstand that is more easily balanced, stick your butt, which is the center of your gravity, out more and you'll balance better.

Becoming bendy is actually easier than starting bendy and becoming strong

Is there a cap? Because I was definitely maintaining, and not getting more bendy. Once I hit my peak, which was pretty unwarmed up and unpropmpted at about age 19, I was never able to get more flexible with regular exercise and stretching.

sara, SPAIN! super exciting. I meant to say that earlier but forgot.

Fuck it. I'm going to bed.

One's ass is huge. If you want to be in a handstand that is more easily balanced, stick your butt, which is the center of your gravity, out more and you'll balance better.

Ha! I have definitely had teachers who have said things like this.

I've been trying to do bakasana for years (that's why it's called a "practice!") and I understand the physics of it but can't get my body to do it. BUT! I've never tried it with blocks. Where would they go?

On of my favorite instructions from the Y ( for the kids in lessons, learning backstroke) was "Tuck your butt up! Like you're holding in a poop!" It works!

I'm not sure my ass is my center of gravity, there isn't much of it. OTOH, the legginess probably makes up the difference with the bulky short torso.

I'd assume there is some kind of a finite stopping point for most people. But if you can move that just enough, it's satisfying.

I'm definitely much less flexible now -- I used to be able to clasp my hands behind my back and rotate my shoulders so that my hands ended at the front of my body without breaking the clasp, but there is no way I could do that now.

Also, my hamstrings are way tighter than they used to be, but still better than many (I can often get my nose to shin or knee).

My 6AM yoga practice, though is different completely than my 6 PM or even my 10:30 AM. With enough time, I might be more flexible depending on time of day?

On of my favorite instructions from the Y ( for the kids in lessons, learning backstroke) was "Tuck your butt up! Like you're holding in a poop!" It works!

Well, that explains why Ryan has such poor yoga posture.

With enough time, I might be more flexible depending on time of day?

This is for sure true for me in terms of balance. My balance is never great but it is for total shit at my early morning classes.

I needed to take a break from politics tonight. I'll read the text of the SOTU tomorrow. But now I also need to step away from FB. The anti-Obama rhetoric from people I otherwise respect is frustrating and so what I don't need.

lisah, one block on the lowest setting under each hand. I have found for me that ALL arm balances are easier with blocks. Just moving them up to that setting makes me lift my hips enough. It brings the ground closer to my legs so I don't have to squat so far and then lift so much.

I have no core and short arms and EVERY arm balance is easier with blocks. The whole eka pada koundinyasana series [link] (awwww Iyengar!) is only possible for me on blocks because I just can keep my hips up when moving into the pose and that helps 100%. Strongly recommend blocks for arm balances.