tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post4299910844714728014..comments2023-09-08T04:41:23.697-04:00Comments on Untitled: Chakrasana FAILTarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06228584620424781533noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-25735641454512308402014-02-14T04:42:13.559-05:002014-02-14T04:42:13.559-05:00Hello Keith! Ouch, sorry to hear about another pe...Hello Keith! Ouch, sorry to hear about another person crunching their neck in chakrasana. Yes, I did modify my practice. I can't remember how long I stopped doing them though--plus each person's recovery will be different. When it came time to do those poses either in a led class or in my Ashtanga practice, I just did the "legs up the wall" pose as it provides a similar energetic effect in the practice without putting your newly injured neck at risk. I wrote a little bit about my recovery experience and the things I learned in the post right after this one ("Chakrasana fail, gifts and lessons").<br /><br />I think the head stands came back first though, once the inflammation and pain were gone and the supporting muscles were strong enough. But I did them with the support. First with blocks and against the wall, set-up is like this: 3 to 4 blocks stacked on either side of your head (depending on your height) against the wall, with one block just in front of them for your hands; you will be in a tripod headstand, not the classical basket headstand; your head should just barely be on the floor with the tower of blocks under your shoulders holding the weight of your body. It will look something like this picture, but without the weird twist she is doing, lol: http://www.heidiyoga.com/sites/default/files/supportedheadstandtwist-edit-298.jpg When coming back to doing this inversions, move slowly and with caution, if you start feeling pain, stop and come down, the neck is not ready. As the neck felt better, I took the blocks away and did a normal headstand but still with the wall as support until I felt ready to move away from it.<br /><br />When I did start practicing shoulder stands again, I did them with support as well, with one or two blankets beneath my shoulders. It's a little hard for me explain how to do them just through words though, but I found an article with accompanying picture that explains it pretty well: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/480. A note though, the fold of the blankets should come to right about the C6 vertebrae in the neck, that bone at the bottom of the neck/top of the upper spine that sticks out a bit. You'll probably need to blankets to start out with, and then you can decrease to one when it starts feeling better. <br /><br />If you are in an area where there are Iyengar Yoga teachers (or with an Iyengar background), seek them out, because Iyengar teachers tend to be highly skilled when it comes to using props. If you have any questions, let me know and I will do my best to answer them.<br /><br />Good luck, remember to be patient, take it easy and listen to your body. The pain sucks but it will also act as your guide, letting you know when you are doing a movement that is damaging to it and when you are doing one that is beneficial. If you're ever not sure, don't do the pose and find a teacher (or physical therapist) who can help you. If you have any questions, let me know and I will do my best to answer them :-)Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06228584620424781533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-15484504349814828782014-02-14T03:57:37.421-05:002014-02-14T03:57:37.421-05:00Hello! So glad to have read your blog entry. I did...Hello! So glad to have read your blog entry. I did this a few days ago just as you describe, even with the crunch sound. <br /><br />Am looking at a few more days out of action. When you began practicing again did you modify your routine to avoid shoulder stands. head stands ect.<br /><br />ThxKeithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09949046398267722627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-67132627589485070892012-06-06T13:28:14.446-04:002012-06-06T13:28:14.446-04:00Hi! Glad this post made you feel better, but sorr...Hi! Glad this post made you feel better, but sorry to hear you crunched your neck too. Make sure you ice it, to help keep the inflammation down. I think mine needed a good 3-4 days of rest before it felt well enough to try to actually move it. If there is a body worker that you know and trust, might be a good idea to see him/her as well. Just make sure you give it plenty of time to heal, you don't want to mess around with your neck ;-) <br /><br />Mine is good now and the chakrasanas are smooth and easy, but I always do a quick check to make sure that I'm not gripping in those neck/shoulder muscles before I do the movement. Also: inhale brings your legs up, exhale as you push into your hands to roll over your head (I don't think I focused on that quite enough when I was practicing it before). Good luck, keep taking it slow and easy, hope your neck heals up well. :-)Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06228584620424781533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-7996711870151256952012-06-05T12:32:53.111-04:002012-06-05T12:32:53.111-04:00Reading this post made me feel better :) . My firs...Reading this post made me feel better :) . My first chakrasana attempt yesterday caused me the EXACT experience you describe, that immobility of the neck down to the left shoulder blades. I've been ibuprofening the pain down. Planning to get back to some basic exercises tomorrow. Cheers :)Deepakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14995112774384055516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-36123675099827051252011-11-12T20:31:26.310-05:002011-11-12T20:31:26.310-05:00I have chondromalacia patella (a big word meaning ...I have chondromalacia patella (a big word meaning the cartilage in my knee grinds essentially every time I bend it, causing pain...) so I am supposed to go to PT for like ~3 months and see if helps... if not, the S word (trying not to think about that extreme)! Maybe this is my clue to a home practice, too - ha ha (I laugh because I am "resistant" as you say you are... small steps...<br /><br />But enough about me .... loved the new post too and here I am ranting again :)Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277800591861161262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-32054085101877957852011-11-09T09:50:45.788-05:002011-11-09T09:50:45.788-05:00Holy moly! I didn't know anyone outside of a ...Holy moly! I didn't know anyone outside of a small handful of my friends was reading this! Thank you for commenting (even if Blogger ate the first version...silly Blogger).<br /><br />So: yes, one injury is more than enough, lol. Injuries will definitely change your perspective and you can learn a lot from them (though it took me quite some time to get to that point). <br /><br />What happened to your knee?Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06228584620424781533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942671737985296053.post-81059905558696815922011-11-08T22:57:19.982-05:002011-11-08T22:57:19.982-05:00I wrote you a super thoughtful comment paragraph b...I wrote you a super thoughtful comment paragraph but then blogger deleted it- <br /><br />The short version:<br /><br />LOVED this post. I can't wait to read about how this injury has been a blessing in disguise for you (isn't one too many ??) It hits home as I continue to change and connect with my practice on a different level after a knee injury 2-3 weeks ago. It really is all about perspective, which you seem to have a lot of!<br /><br />-BeccaBeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277800591861161262noreply@blogger.com