My Worst Pose

[Bridgette]

I'm going to get a few giggles from this I'm sure. I have a ton of issues as far as my yoga practice goes (for more back info read my first post at: http://www.yogaforums.com/forums/f13...-new-post.html ) . I thought I might as well start from the beginning however with my most annoying pose. The mountain pose. Yes thats right, basic standing. I can do a some pretty advance back bends but I can't hold a stand for more then a min. without pain.

I have good posture but my problem is when I normally stand I constantly sway and shift my weight from my right leg and left. The area I feel pain is in my knees and the heals. I work as a cashier and I am CONSTANTLY on my feet for 10 hours with the exception of 2 5-min breaks. I'm sure this is where my problem probably lies. It doesn't help that I went on a rampage to loose weight about 6 month ago and I think due to treadmills and air bikes, my knees have seen better days.

Other info that might have some bearing, I have a high fiber vegetarian diet, drink only tea and water, I have started glucosmine supplements, I don't get a lot of calcium but I take a women's one-a-day vitamin. I use to be 225 lbs. I'm now 150lbs and still loosing. I am 5'5. I also do a lot of lifting with a toddler in the house.

I live in a very rural area of Wisconsin with the nearest yoga instructor far out of reach. I thought about seeing a doctor but as many uninsured Americans know, it's not exactly an option.

Hopefully you have suggestions!

[InnerAthlete]

Suggestions for?

[sarahy]

can i ask why you must do tadasana? seems like you do 10 hours of tadasana a day already.

many years ago i also worked a few retail jobs and would wake up in the middle of the night with severe cramps in my calves - ouch! i sympathize. do you have a good, supportive pair of shoes? also, i have heard that having a small box that you can rest one foot on as you stand will help to alleviate some of the aggrivation (also to the sacro illiac joint as well). it just has to be a little step that allows the leg to bend a bit. and avoid locking your legs as it can limit blood circulation in the legs. i also don't stand when working, i'd be constantly shifting from front to back and side to side- i think this is natural, we can't stand in exactly the same way indefinately!

my suggestion would be rather bring yoga into your work... practice tadasana at the till, modify with tree pose, and other one legged balances.

when you get home, substitute your tadasana for viparita karani (Yoga Journal - Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose) - very relaxing! also other inversions like shoulderstand and headstand can assist to drain that blood out of the feet and back to your heart and head.

good luck,
sarah

[Bridgette]

Thank you so much for your suggestions Sarah. My shoes probably aren't helping. I am a horrible shoe shopper and find it intimidating (barefoot and proud). Any good shoe recommendations?

[sarahy]

Ha Ha- since i've moved to africa i actually reject close-toed shoes and socks. it's like an insult now to wear them! i also prefer sandals and flip flops and right now i'm swapping between birkenstocks and chacos for work.

so for work wear...and i know this is both physically and financially painful, i wore dr. maartens. i found them to be study and unforgiving, but were good support for my feet. i've found with birkenstock-type shoes (if you were considering getting the clog type) that if you have poor posture (which you said you didn't) or walk funny the foot bed molds to this and reinforces the bad habit. i think there are lots of shoes made specifically for those who are on their feet a lot so i don't think that dr. maartens are the only option. i think look for something comfortable, but supportive. yes, they're ugly but it's only work .

good luck! sarah

[Bridgette]

Is that Dr. Martens? I couldn't find any Dr. Maarten shoes. I use to wear nothing but sandals while I was in school, even in the 20 below Wisconsin winters. But not "uniform" for work.

[Hubert]

There is a great difference (or at least it should be) between Tadasana and having activities done in an erect pose - I mean standing.

Tadasana is still useful for people who stand a lot, because very few people stand correctly. Everyone has muscles inbalances, standing acentuates these and might cement a wrong posture.
In case of perfect balance, the human body is very durable, and people who still live close to nature are proof to that ... a human should be able to walk three days, resting only at night.
Tadasana is standing with full awarness, and one reason for it's practice could be to enable doing every standing action with full postural awareness.

In this particular case I'd practice Viparita Karani using a wall. I mean a lot of it, but with a gradual start ... making sure that I do not suffer of any of the contraindications. But the best would be to discuss this with your teacher.

[Nichole]

Originally Posted by sarahy

considering getting the clog type) that if you have poor posture (which you said you didn't) or walk funny the foot bed molds to this and reinforces the bad habit. i think there are lots of shoes made specifically for those who are on their feet a lot so i don't think that dr. maartens are the only option. i think look for something comfortable, but supportive. yes, they're ugly but it's only work .

good luck! sarah

bridgette,
i think sarah may be referring to dansko brand clogs. yes? no?
i own these clogs and used them for years while waiting tables--they saved my knees during these years. you have also be interested in investing in a pair of negative-heel shoes by the company earth. they are an investment though with both companies asking about $100 per pair--i have had my danskos for 5 long-working years and they only get better and more custom to my feet.

cheers,

[Bridgette]

I saw an ad for them in yoga journal last month. They looked interesting. I'll look into both brands. Hopefully I will find something. When I waitressed I never really had a problem because I was always moving. My feet always felt bad at the end of night but that was it, but when I cashier I'm standing in one spot and my knees are constantly popping and aching now. Hopefully I'll find something.

Thank you so much for the brand suggestions, I will look into every one of them.

[sacyogini]

just a thought, in addition to shoes, have you thought of accupuncture? It can be pretty amazing how much a good accupuncurist can help. I had terrible sciatica and my hips were way out alignment, two sessions and viola. Good luck to you, I hope you get some relief