Hi Esther,
I wasn't sure where to place this question, so I placed it here. I have very limited external rotation in my right hip. Years of stretching has not helped it at all.
This is important to me for one reason: Full Lotus. I already know that you'll probably tell me to forget the full lotus and if I wasn't such a hard headed zen student I'd listen. I want to(First Noble truth)be able to sit full lotus regularly for my zazen. I can do half lotus with out any problem at all if my left is on top, but this adversely affects my pelvis therefore my back.
I'm insistent on this because I hate burmese and seiza. Absolutely hate them. I feel like the lotus postures support the spine for long hours of sitting better than the other postures. Everytime I've switched to burmese in zazen, I feel like I'm sliding off my cushion, giving myself a wedgie, creating neck tension, and my breath is irregular. I sit half lotus most of the time and if it were not for the lateral tilt of my pelvis, I'd sit that way all the time. It is really comfortable.
I don't want to force it and hurt my self. What would be your suggestions for opening up my right hip to eventually get to full lotus with ease?
Gassho,
Al
I wasn't sure where to place this question, so I placed it here. I have very limited external rotation in my right hip. Years of stretching has not helped it at all.
This is important to me for one reason: Full Lotus. I already know that you'll probably tell me to forget the full lotus and if I wasn't such a hard headed zen student I'd listen. I want to(First Noble truth)be able to sit full lotus regularly for my zazen. I can do half lotus with out any problem at all if my left is on top, but this adversely affects my pelvis therefore my back.
I'm insistent on this because I hate burmese and seiza. Absolutely hate them. I feel like the lotus postures support the spine for long hours of sitting better than the other postures. Everytime I've switched to burmese in zazen, I feel like I'm sliding off my cushion, giving myself a wedgie, creating neck tension, and my breath is irregular. I sit half lotus most of the time and if it were not for the lateral tilt of my pelvis, I'd sit that way all the time. It is really comfortable.
I don't want to force it and hurt my self. What would be your suggestions for opening up my right hip to eventually get to full lotus with ease?
Gassho,
Al
33 min 54 sec ago
09/10/2008 - 8:36pm
To work on your right hip, I recommend pigeon pose from the yoga tradition. It is a much stronger stretch than paper clip (shown in [i]8 steps[/i]), which it sounds you will need to achieve lotus.
14 years 7 months ago
01/14/2010 - 8:30am
How long would you recommend to hold the pidgeon pose for? Do you prefer the upright version or the version where you lay prone?
Regards,
Al
33 min 54 sec ago
09/10/2008 - 8:36pm
For pigeon pose, I like leaning forward (prone), but only as far as you can go without rounding your back. Also pay some attention to leaving your pelvis level.