Stretching and lactic acid

Yoga Discussion Structural Yoga Therapy
#1

Thomas Griner warns one not to do hatha yoga and hold poses, as he believes it activates the stretch reflex and increases lactic acid in the muscle, etc. However, Michael Alter in his book The Science of Flexibility says that lactic acid does not build up with static stretching. I’ve always delineated a significant difference between the safe static stretch as done in hatha and the stretch reflex activated by fast and ballistic stretching. (I’m also aware that Griner seems to be quite a materialist with little to no belief in the flow or prana or chi in the body.) I would appreciate your comments on this issue.

Namaste, Bob, PT, Colorado

#2

The lactic acid question is beyond my understanding of physiology. You might ask it to esutra@aol.com there is a diversity of people receiving that who could do a better job. My postulate is that it is due to those students with excess pitta (fire) and who do not relax as they stretch. I am not sure it has to do with how long you hold the stretch but am more inclined to think in terms of Ayurvedic constitution. Stretching is a stimulation of pitta. As many people practicing yoga are pitta predominant this aggravates them. It is important to be sensitive to what you feel as you stretch, this helps to balance vata. For pitta predominant person stretches are beneficial only as long as they are opening - elongating the tissue. When stretch is confined and doesn’t move (lacking vata - prana) then by products would be confined within the tissues involved. Hence sensitivity training in asana is crucial to getting most benefit. Prana should always be moving during asana practice when it is not then problems arise. These problems are the subject of an entire chapter in classical yoga text - see Hatha Yoga Pradipika chapter 5 (published by Kaivalyadhama Yoga Research Center, Lonavla, India).