Staying safe while progressing in our yoga practice

Something that came up in last Monday’s class. I had included several poses that could potential stress the knee, a vulnerable joint that is prone to injury because of its limited range of movement. The knee it is a hinge joint, permitting movement in one plane only. Yoga students might tend to overexert pressure on the knee in an attempt to move deeper into poses such as baddha konasana (pictured) which rely on an opening of the hip joint, something which can only be achieved by relaxing, waiting and allowing: non-doing rather than doing. While it can be frustrating to feel held back in our poses, we must practice mindfulness ie cultivating awareness of what the body accepts and acceptance ie making peace with where we are.