Oops, I meant strong outward rotation can cause compression (just like changing to internal rotation can cause your tail bone to lengthen as like you described when trying to stand that way). Long, slow, yin holds which slowly lengthen ligaments over time to allow your spine to curve naturally. It doesn't matter. It's very difficult to argue with the point he's making as he demonstrates it quite logically.
I just bought and watched the first three chapters of this DVD, and came on here to find a trailer to put on my face book to recommend it to my friends.
I'm glad I read Michaeldorman's comment, because I was feeling skeptical at first while watching the video, but now I see that what Grilley explains in the video is not an excuse or a life sentence for\to restricted movement but a better explanation to the reality of our situation and a BETTER AVENUE for training and exploring your body.
The point is that within any range of motion, there is a point at which a bony compression restricts further movement -- the elbow being a great example.
Of course there can be significant tissue restriction first that can be worked through (Paul goes to great lengths to explain this); but recognizing the role that variations in bone structure play from person to person is very valuable in understanding what may or may not be possible in asana.
@pranamayainc variations in bone structure are overshadowed in the vast majority of asana practitioners by soft-tissue restrictions, primarily muscular, to the extent that few are going to run into them---so to focus on them is, in my opinion, to give people the wrong impression on whether or not they can transform their practice.
Short of of a structural defect, the joint compression Mr Grilley references is more likely caused by muscular restrictions---latissimus dorsi being a good candidate---and that is totally modifiable.
By Mr. Grilley's reasoning, no one can ever relieve low back compression that restricts forward folds---and yet, by lengthening the hamstrings, people are able to achieve just that.
It does require commitment, and care, but it is totally achievable.
Look at the source of the low back compression. Simply lengthening the hamstrings will alleviate some of the back pain but if you stop for 2 months, you're right back to where you started. But if you realize your femur is strongly inwardly rotated and this is what's causing your back to compress, you can change the ligments that hold your femur in that position (slowly and over time with Yin poses). The tailbone can lengthen down and relieve the compression in a more permanent fashion.
@sistah43 How does rotating your femur inward---by which I take you to mean internal rotation---cause compression of the low back? If I stand here and rotate my leg inward, I feel a greater sense of space in the low back, not compression. So how does that happen, exactly? What is the mechanism?
@sistah43 Also, while muscles may eventually shorten, that's a feature not a bug. If you lengthen the wrong ligament, you can introduce permanent instability in a joint. The ligaments are the last line of defense against such things, and are not to be trifled with lightly.
Oops, I meant strong outward rotation can cause compression (just like changing to internal rotation can cause your tail bone to lengthen as like you described when trying to stand that way). Long, slow, yin holds which slowly lengthen ligaments over time to allow your spine to curve naturally. It doesn't matter. It's very difficult to argue with the point he's making as he demonstrates it quite logically.
sistah43 9 months ago
I just bought and watched the first three chapters of this DVD, and came on here to find a trailer to put on my face book to recommend it to my friends.
I'm glad I read Michaeldorman's comment, because I was feeling skeptical at first while watching the video, but now I see that what Grilley explains in the video is not an excuse or a life sentence for\to restricted movement but a better explanation to the reality of our situation and a BETTER AVENUE for training and exploring your body.
donkruse 1 year ago
Hi Michael,
The point is that within any range of motion, there is a point at which a bony compression restricts further movement -- the elbow being a great example.
Of course there can be significant tissue restriction first that can be worked through (Paul goes to great lengths to explain this); but recognizing the role that variations in bone structure play from person to person is very valuable in understanding what may or may not be possible in asana.
pranamayainc 2 years ago
@pranamayainc variations in bone structure are overshadowed in the vast majority of asana practitioners by soft-tissue restrictions, primarily muscular, to the extent that few are going to run into them---so to focus on them is, in my opinion, to give people the wrong impression on whether or not they can transform their practice.
michaeldorman 10 months ago
I don't buy this at all.
Short of of a structural defect, the joint compression Mr Grilley references is more likely caused by muscular restrictions---latissimus dorsi being a good candidate---and that is totally modifiable.
By Mr. Grilley's reasoning, no one can ever relieve low back compression that restricts forward folds---and yet, by lengthening the hamstrings, people are able to achieve just that.
It does require commitment, and care, but it is totally achievable.
michaeldorman 2 years ago
Look at the source of the low back compression. Simply lengthening the hamstrings will alleviate some of the back pain but if you stop for 2 months, you're right back to where you started. But if you realize your femur is strongly inwardly rotated and this is what's causing your back to compress, you can change the ligments that hold your femur in that position (slowly and over time with Yin poses). The tailbone can lengthen down and relieve the compression in a more permanent fashion.
sistah43 10 months ago
@sistah43 How does rotating your femur inward---by which I take you to mean internal rotation---cause compression of the low back? If I stand here and rotate my leg inward, I feel a greater sense of space in the low back, not compression. So how does that happen, exactly? What is the mechanism?
michaeldorman 10 months ago
@sistah43 Also, while muscles may eventually shorten, that's a feature not a bug. If you lengthen the wrong ligament, you can introduce permanent instability in a joint. The ligaments are the last line of defense against such things, and are not to be trifled with lightly.
michaeldorman 10 months ago