| Also, what do people, especially the experienced ashtanga practitioners out there, feel about one (who is only doing primary series) doing some of the intermediate or second series back bending postures, ie, shalabhasana A and B, Dhanurasana, and Ushtrasana as a way to supplement their back bending. I find that the secondary back bending sequence, up until ushtrasana, easier on my back. My primary instructor said that that was fine for me to do in my mysore practice as long as I do the two other asanas that precede the back bending poses. |
| If your teacher has given you the nod, go for it! Mine is far more traditional, I suspect; though I have been "allowed" to start second series before unassisted dropbacks.
UD is a bear of a pose (especially for me), and as the first real backbend in primary series, it's pretty intense. I am only now finding some ease in it (I'm two poses into second series is all, and I am very much looking forward to starting some of the backbends). The nice thing about ustrasana, laghu vajrasana and kapotasana, is that they also help develop the strength in the legs to help stand up from UD, something I'm still struggling with. When I practise at home, I do second up to LV (Kapo if I'm feeling very adventurous), and I find that UD is much more comfortable. Makes sense, really.
namaste,
lisa |
more back bending
