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
1 hour 54 min 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 5 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
1 hour 54 min 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.