Painful ankles

[urga]

Hi
I have been practising Yoga for about a year now,albeit only once a week.
I am still having difficulty in doing a simple kneeling pose.Just sitting on my ankles is excruiating.The pain comes from the front of ankle joint and there seems to be an inability to be able to flex my foot enough to sit comfortably in the pose.
Anyone else have similar problems?
I don't run but I do cycle and wonder whether this may be aggrivating the condition.
Cheers

[InnerAthlete]

Well there certainly isn't much plantar flexion of the ankle in cycling. But I suppose it does shorten the calf muscles significantly. You're right, it may not be helping.

Mobility in the ankles does however take a long time to cultivate when it is not inherently present. How often are you working such actions - twice per day?

There shouldn't be anything excruciating in asana so I'd advise continued work to open the ankles and a rolled blanket or mat under the front of the ankles in kneeling postures like Virasana or Vajrasana.

[Pandara]

Hi,

To add to the flexibility of your ankles, try to flex and rotate the ankles while you sit and read a book or work on the computer or even at night while you lay in bed ready to go to sleep, just a few will help. This way you start to strenghten the muscles in a gentle way as well.