Gravity training

I joint a workshop offered by Lucas (Yogabody). He focuses on gravity training. The course I booked concentrates on hip opening.

I’m very much interested in the method. I had already bought another course and I realized how effective the method is. Especially the stretching that aimed at the upper body and shoulders helped me a lot in my regular Ashtanga practice.

I’m curious which positions are introduced during the coming 21 days. I checked them already as we got also access to former videos. To see a position and to do it is a difference. Another huge difference is to hold an asana up to 5 minutes. This is a crucial part of the method. Holding positions for a long time is effective and that’s what the course is about.

The gravity method in sum:

  • Let gravity work for you. It’s rather passive stretching. To relax in a position is important.

  • The breath helps to relax. Exhaling is double as long as inhaling. One shall exhale through the mouth, but exhaling through the nose is also possible.

  • The positions are held up to 5 minutes.

  • A warm up is not necessary.

A very good time for the stretching exercises is the evening before bed time. The exercises are like a sleeping pill. There are positions of another course by Lucas that make me even sleep while I’m still in the position. The bretzl arms relax me so much that I fall asleep despite that awkward position of the arms.

It’s nice to practice in a community. At 3 pm we all meet at zoom. People join from all corners of this world. To be part of such an inspiring group makes the Covid-19 lock down light rather bearable.

A few words to the first asanas (see pictures:

  • The hips shall be parallel. The stretching aims at the front side of the hip of the leg that is stretched backward. Having open hips helps a lot in back bending.

  • The hands can rest on the foot and knee of he bent leg, but then the height is different. I prefer to use blocks therefore.

  • The arms shall be stretched.

I think there is potential when I look at the pictures

The second asana is easy for me. Why ever. It’s a good one for stiff people.

Learning never stops.