Hamstring stretching yoga

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Do any of you practice yoga, or have you practiced it?

It's all about stretching, right?

I don't know if I'm normal or if it can be changed, but it seems to me that my hamstrings are always tight.

Can a person be born with little flexibility, and can this be changed or should it be accepted as part of life?

I noted this again today as I have had a terrible headache and the muscles at the back of my neck were tense, so I did different exercises to try to loosen up--neck, back, torso, legs.

[Susan Unger]

Do any of you practice yoga, or have you practiced it?

It's all about stretching, right?

I don't know if I'm normal or if it can be changed, but it seems to me that my hamstrings are always tight.

Can a person be born with little flexibility, and can this be changed or should it be accepted as part of life?

I noted this again today as I have had a terrible headache and the muscles at the back of my neck were tense, so I did different exercises to try to loosen up--neck, back, torso, legs.

In my small experience, yes, people can be born with lots, little, or in between flexibility.

[Betty Bolerjack]

Wanda,

I used to avoid yoga, thinking it was an eastern religion that I didn't want to be involved with although I longed to be that limber. However, a few years ago, I learned that yoga could be very good for scoliosis, which I have, so I took a closer look. I found a
book I would highly recommend to you. It is Back Care Basics by Mary Pullig Schatz, M.D. It takes a balanced/medical/healing approach to the practice of yoga. She states: Because yoga has its roots in the Hindu culture of India, there is a popular misconception that yoga is a religion. Just as practice of the Japanese martial arts of karate and aikido does not require becoming a Buddhist, the practice of yoga does not require that you adopt Hinduism. Rather, yoga is nonsectarian, promting health and harmonious living.

I haven't been consistent with doing it, but I have found that when I am consistent, my chiropractic adjustments hold much better, my posture is better, I have less pain, more strength, etc. There is somewhat more flexibility but I have never been consistent long enough to achieve much in that area. I would encourage you to check it out. This book has excellent pictures/illustrations and teaches you how to do it on your own. I haven't gotten much beyond Downward-facing Dog pose and Child's pose, but those two are very helpful to me. Downward-facing Dog should be helpful with your hamstring problem as well as the other things you mentioned. It gives a good stretch from the top of your head to the soles of your feet!

Also, I just found this blog post (http://beebleblog.com/2007/09/12/leg-stretches-hamstring-stretches/) that you might find interesting. It would indicate that tight hamstrings are just a fact of life, especially if you are in a job that requires a lot of sitting as I am sure yours does.

I hope this helps. I don't know much about hamstrings, but I am the Queen of Google searches! I think my brother is the King. If I can't find it, he can. :basic05

[Ann Smith]

I started taking Yoga classes a couple of months ago, in an attempt to get more flexible. I don't consistantly practice at all between weekly classes. However, I am more flexible in some of the movements. I really enjoy the challenge. The teacher is a good friend of my oldest daughter. She is a certified instructor and was shocked at how good I am doing.

As to whether it will help your Hamstrings, I would think it would.
Ann