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discomfort when stretchlying

srini123
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08/29/2009 - 10:58am
discomfort when stretchlying
Dear Esther,

I thank you for the wonderful service you are providing through your book, videos, and products.

I have been trying to stretchlying in the back. I follow the steps. After a few minutes I feel discomfort in the region below the knees. And so I throw the towel (actually the pillow beneath my knees) and revert to my usual sleeping posture

I understand that the knees are to be in the same direction as the outward-turned feet. I am unable to achieve that. As background I have had some lower back pain and tight hamstrings.

Your guidance and time would be most appreciated.

respectfully,
Srinivasan
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09/10/2008 - 8:36pm
The pillow beneath the knees is recommended only if it feels comfortable (this usually means you have a tight psoas muscle and the pillow helps compensate for that.) If it doesn't feel good, don't use - just do all the other steps of stretchlying to get a lengthened spine.

I'm curious, though, why a pillow beneath your knees hurts you. Are you turning your knees out too much perhaps? Your knees and your feet should turn out just a little.
srini123
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11 years 6 months ago
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08/29/2009 - 10:58am
Dear Esther,

Thank you for your prompt reply!

I tried stretch lying without the pillow. It's much better.

Here's what I find:

1. At night, the discomfort is in the feet and just above the feet (lower calves). I figured that this has nothing to do with stretchlying. My feet are just tired at the end of the day.

2. When I nap in the afternoon with stretchlying, I am able to nap for 30 minutes, with no discomfort and maintain the posture.

respectfully,
Srinivasan 
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