This has been an area of interest to me. I even did a survey carring a scale to yoga classes.
My understanding is that in Iyengar Yoga there is a "small" amount of weight in the hand in Utthita Trikonasana.
I have noticed that in Iyengar Yoga all of the side extended standing asana have a connection to the ground.
So the question is what is the nature of this connection.
Try this. Without looking down, place your hand or block on a scale. When doing your normal Trikonasana, look down to see the
weight in your hand. Do the second side. Note your weights.
Mine were not what I thought they would be.
Anyone take measurments, have comments, insights?
My understanding is that in Iyengar Yoga there is a "small" amount of weight in the hand in Utthita Trikonasana.
I have noticed that in Iyengar Yoga all of the side extended standing asana have a connection to the ground.
So the question is what is the nature of this connection.
Try this. Without looking down, place your hand or block on a scale. When doing your normal Trikonasana, look down to see the
weight in your hand. Do the second side. Note your weights.
Mine were not what I thought they would be.
Anyone take measurments, have comments, insights?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Wed, May 9, 2007 - 9:04 PMJust like in any standing pose, there is an ascending energy from any limb which is in contact with the ground, even when there is also a strong grounding energy, such as in the FEET in utitha trikonasana. Regarding the lower hand in this pose, it depends somewhat on whether you take the hand to the ankle or to the floor (or a block). For the latter, be sure that all the joints of the fingers are concave. When this occurs, you will see that there is very little downward pressure/weight on the lower hand.
My 2 cents... -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Thu, May 10, 2007 - 8:49 AMThanks for your reply.
I like that you said there is an ascending energy and grounding energy in any contact,
feet or hand.
I would agree with your 2 cents...
When I used the scale, I found most people were very much the same on the right and left sides. Within one or two pounds.
A few were somewhat different by several pounds. Some were very supprised by this difference.
It was an interesting project to do. -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Fri, May 18, 2007 - 8:40 AMhave you ever tried weighing all the parts that touch the floor - and seeing if the sum is different than just standing on the scale? -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Thu, May 24, 2007 - 3:25 PMZip,
I have thought about more than one scale to weight the feet.
I need to get three scales, one fore each foot and one for the hand.
I would not expect the sum opf the parts to be different than the whole.
There are many things to try. Right to left and front to back weights in many asana.
It will all be an interesting experiment. -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 1:50 AMInteresting you are mentioning this, bc coincidently I've been doing this posture for the last couple of days and noticed some things I couldn't quite put in words.
When I do this posture with my hand on a block or on my shin/ankle, I have the tendency to put too much weight on it, I actually LEAN on my hand.
If I put it on the ground, I automatically shift my weight onto my legs and stand firm (also because I can't put my hand flat and have to lean on my fingertips). Since the hand on the ground is more difficult for me, I usually put my hand on my ankle, and noticed that: I sometimes couldn't keep my balance well, plus were hurting in the front knee. I figured it was because of too much weight on 'the hand'.
As soon as I started shifting my weight back into my legs, the problems were gone. -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Tue, July 8, 2008 - 12:08 AMi just joined here, so pardon me while i resurrect an ancient thread...
i've been contemplating this exact question and i asked my instructor once but i think he didn't understand what i was asking, he just said i was doing the pose correctly. I end up with my palm flat on the floor in Trikonasana after warming up, and although i enjoy the deep stretch, i notice that this causes me to put so much weight on that hand that i feel i'm not getting the proper dynamic out of the pose. So what i've been striving for is reaching toward the ceiling with the other hand, to lift my weight off of the lower hand even if i've got it flat on the floor, or keep the fingertips straight and touch the ground with just the tips. Doing this seems to work the muscles in my torso a lot more as i have to hold my body weight up off the lower hand. Doing Trikonasana this way has definitely strengthened and toned my sides which has supported my spine a lot better and helped me with some back pain i used to have. -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Tue, July 8, 2008 - 3:41 PMmadame7,
Something of interest that my yoga teacher told me is that:
Maney people from india (including Iyengar) have longer arms than most people here in the states.
About three inches, so thier palm on the floor may be the same as your fingertips.
For me it's a continuing journey.
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Tue, July 8, 2008 - 5:31 AMHow interesting Curry!
Thank you -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Wed, July 9, 2008 - 10:28 PMyes, very interesting..
my arms are longer than average for a caucasian female (i know because shirt sleeves are always a bit short on me), but still not long enough that my elbows are bent in uttanasana. I've seen some Indian yogis in Uttanasana with their heads between their legs and their elbows bent 90 degrees! -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Wed, August 6, 2008 - 6:07 AMthe torso should be supported by itself and through energy running from one arm through the upper chest through the other.
Now onto a question.. what do you say is the ideal base of support distance between the feeet?
I just was in a demo class in which the instructor had everyone have 4 - 4 1/2 foot distance between feet! that seems way too far.
thank you -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Wed, August 6, 2008 - 9:00 PMHi Cathyg, You wrote: " Now onto a question.. what do you say is the ideal base of support distance between the feeet? ..."
For me: It would depend on what I did before and/or what I was going to do next. If I was comming from or going to Virabhadrasana II, then I would be in a distance for my front knee to be at a 90 angle. This for me would be in the 4 - 4 1/2 foot distance. At some other times the distance would be less. I do not think there would be an ideal distance to work for everyone at all times.
You might use the length of your leg as a guide. In your own practice, look for what works best for you. -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Thu, August 7, 2008 - 6:25 AMthanks Curry.
the instructor from RS's Iyengar Studio sai din no nonsense terms it MUST be 4 - 4 1/2 feet apart. I just read Yoga Journal's description .. 3 1/2 feet - 4 feet. I think it really depends on one's height and also the height attained when one reaches out... the trunk should allow the spine to be mor eor less paralle to the floor so the waist is not crimped. -
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Re: Weight on the hand in Trikonasana
Thu, August 7, 2008 - 5:10 PMCathyg, You seem to understand the asana well.
You are right to say it depends on one's height etc.
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