Happy baby pose

[buggirl]

I love Happy Baby pose! It makes me so happy to do it, and feels so good for my tight hips. However, I find it really uncomfortable unless I'm doing it on a soft surface - my spine is kind of bony and I can feel each vertebra rubbing on the floor.

Any suggestions? My old yoga teacher simply told me to use two mats. I bought a lovely new mat that is extra thick, and that seems to be helping. I just wanted to be sure that I'm not doing something wrong in this delightful pose!

buggirl

[InnerAthlete]

Folks with pokey spines often have such issues in supine poses.
If two mats does not alleviate your issue you can try a folded blanket.
The pose you mention is relatively harmless.

[buggirl]

Thank you - glad to hear that I'm not the only one with a 'pokey spine'!

[yogabond]

I have the same issue with my pokey spine I just fought through the pain and now my body is accustomed to it. Sometimes it comes back to hurt unexpectedly though Maybe 2 mats are in order. Never bothered to try it.

[louise molenkamp]

Originally Posted by yogabond

I have the same issue with my pokey spine I just fought through the pain and now my body is accustomed to it. Sometimes it comes back to hurt unexpectedly though Maybe 2 mats are in order. Never bothered to try it.

Dear yogabond,
i think you never should experience any pain in your yoga practice. You have to adjust the pose or use props or do not do it at all.

fighting through pain does not sound like a sattvic yoga attitude to me and neither is getting accustomed to it.
Please try to find friendly ways to practise yoga and consider your body your best friend and to be handled with love. Next time please do bother to try 3 mats.
Louise

[InnerAthlete]

Yogabond,

If I may add a coupe of things.
The first is that the nervous system utilizes the spine as a hub so when the spine is impacted it can agitate the student. It may not be so for you and that's fine. Just something to bear in mind while bearing in mind.

The second thing is the issue of pain. Just as both attachment (raga) and aversion (dvesha) are obstacles one can also say too much pleasure or too much pain are obstacles too. It is merely misunderstanding to believe a yoga practice (be it asana or a more comprehensive practice) should be only pleasant. Pleasant is nice but it is only one of a myriad of experiences.

One can absolutely maintain a calm state of mind through pain just as one could maintain an aggravated state of mind through pleasure.

So my position is a bit different on the pain topic. There are several different sorts of pain which vary from person to person (the taking of it). When contracting a muscle while lengthening it it is perfectly acceptable to feel the discomfort of that action. Remember that Yoga is rooting and recoiling, contradictory but complementary actions, duality...it is no more appropriate to push and be in constant pain (or danger of injury) than it is to move so little there is no effect in the body at all. Both positions are at the extreme ends of the continuum.

Instead I advocate speaking up when you are quiet and finding some silence when you are loud. Put another way, if you are a sloth, move a bit please. If you are a cheetah, take a walk or two.