What do you think the difference between this approach and yoga is? I've never gotten any relief from yoga. Do you think many people are too intense during yoga possibly? Thanks for the videos.
Yoga is all about breathing and relaxation combined with intensity. Most people struggle with the former and focus on the latter. Being able to relax into a pose, even if it requires strength is pretty hard. That's why yoga has such a wierd learning curve. It starts out slow and at some point the breathing part makes click and you learn to relax. Then progress really picks up
I agree with @captaincairopt .. This is what Yoga is supposed to be, however, count your blessings if you find a teacher who teaches it in the West. In Qi Gong this is called this Neigong. Neigong is what's happening INSIDE vs. what's happening outside. Yoga will run you through all this stuff to do on the outside, and most of what they will tell you about the inside is to breathe. But with this work, you are working almost solely with what is happening inside. And you can accomplish a lot this way.
@artofopening that's a great breakdown. People forget that asana (the poses, or physical practice) is just a part of "Yoga" - which is a whole philosophy in and of itself. Most of my yoga teacher colleagues here in Europe teach it as some sort of stretching practice, focusing purely on the physical aspect.
A lot of truth in this. I have a stiff knee contracture from surgery 7 years ago, and no amount of banging away on it or stretching the leg into extension improves my ROM. But once I took a strong sedative (for an unrelated issue) which had the effect of *unclenching* a lot of bodily/nervous system tension, and my knee ROM suddenly improved for a few hours. It was the bodily relaxation response that finally allowed it, not any stretches or exercises. But I can't just take sedatives every day, so it remains stiff. The nervous system tension and 'guarding' of the knee has become deeply engrained. Even though the knee healed from surgery years ago, the body won't 'let go' of the stiffness.
That's exactly it. When the nervous system is less active you will find that you can access these things. You can't take a sedative every day, but you can play with the relaxation work for a while (at least a few months), and then all the while be challenging the knee ROM. This is why I've chosen to work with psychedelics. They allow me to work with my nervous system in a way where I have been able to overcome deep layers of tension, and it is lasting afterwards. This is not for everyone but it's been special for me.
I was trying as you spoke, and you are right: the cement I thought I had there seemed to soften. Still a long way to go but I got it!. brillant!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Good question. Maybe I will make a video about this. Short answer... It can be very effective. But it will always be short term. If you are not learning to relax internally (by yourself) then your body will not change to a more relaxed state. Gotta learn it.
Thanks this video Help: In my experience when I do a lot of bends at the waist(for example hamstring opening move) I get back pain in the days later. It is so good for my hamstrings and have seen a lot of improvement but back pain follows. I do think I have some spinal instability and try to brace my core when I bend at the waist to stretch my hamstrings. Any tips on how to stretch hamstrings without this associated back pain or correct way to bend at the waist? Thank you!
I don’t know for sure. The first thing I’d check is if you’re able to just move from the pelvis without the spine compensating. If that’s good, then you might have a funny twist in the spine or ribs.
Cool question. Usually these areas you can think of like a pinpoint target. As you go toward the center, it gets more intense (whether that be stretch or pain). So stay on the outside edge instead of going toward the center. Then you can see about trying to circulate around it. So instead of just coming from one angle, try coming from another angle. Hope that makes sense.
What’s your thoughts on self applied pressure with a block or other pressure tool with deep diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system while the pressure on the fascia allows the tissue to “free up” or melt?
I’m making a video about this soon. I think it’s potentially really great. I’ve had good experiences with self massage and releasing. The main thing is that you are working with the nervous system internally. Relaxing. If you are not, it will not be effective long term.
What do you think the difference between this approach and yoga is? I've never gotten any relief from yoga. Do you think many people are too intense during yoga possibly? Thanks for the videos.
Yoga is all about breathing and relaxation combined with intensity. Most people struggle with the former and focus on the latter.
Being able to relax into a pose, even if it requires strength is pretty hard. That's why yoga has such a wierd learning curve. It starts out slow and at some point the
breathing part makes click and you learn to relax. Then progress really picks up
I agree with @captaincairopt .. This is what Yoga is supposed to be, however, count your blessings if you find a teacher who teaches it in the West.
In Qi Gong this is called this Neigong. Neigong is what's happening INSIDE vs. what's happening outside. Yoga will run you through all this stuff to do on the outside, and most of what they will tell you about the inside is to breathe.
But with this work, you are working almost solely with what is happening inside. And you can accomplish a lot this way.
@artofopening that's a great breakdown.
People forget that asana (the poses, or physical practice) is just a part of "Yoga" - which is a whole philosophy in and of itself.
Most of my yoga teacher colleagues here in Europe teach it as some sort of stretching practice, focusing purely on the physical aspect.
A lot of truth in this. I have a stiff knee contracture from surgery 7 years ago, and no amount of banging away on it or stretching the leg into extension improves my ROM. But once I took a strong sedative (for an unrelated issue) which had the effect of *unclenching* a lot of bodily/nervous system tension, and my knee ROM suddenly improved for a few hours. It was the bodily relaxation response that finally allowed it, not any stretches or exercises. But I can't just take sedatives every day, so it remains stiff.
The nervous system tension and 'guarding' of the knee has become deeply engrained. Even though the knee healed from surgery years ago, the body won't 'let go' of the stiffness.
That's exactly it. When the nervous system is less active you will find that you can access these things. You can't take a sedative every day, but you can play with the relaxation work for a while (at least a few months), and then all the while be challenging the knee ROM.
This is why I've chosen to work with psychedelics. They allow me to work with my nervous system in a way where I have been able to overcome deep layers of tension, and it is lasting afterwards. This is not for everyone but it's been special for me.
Awesome video, thanks man 😊
This makes a lot of sense. Checking out Kit Loughlin now.
I was trying as you spoke, and you are right: the cement I thought I had there seemed to soften. Still a long way to go but I got it!. brillant!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Great to hear! You will find this more and more now if you keep at it. And you will get better and better at releasing it. Try a little bit every day.
this is inspiring
Glad to hear that 🙏
How important is massage in relaxing the joints?
Good question. Maybe I will make a video about this.
Short answer... It can be very effective. But it will always be short term.
If you are not learning to relax internally (by yourself) then your body will not change to a more relaxed state. Gotta learn it.
Thanks this video
Help:
In my experience when I do a lot of bends at the waist(for example hamstring opening move) I get back pain in the days later. It is so good for my hamstrings and have seen a lot of improvement but back pain follows. I do think I have some spinal instability and try to brace my core when I bend at the waist to stretch my hamstrings.
Any tips on how to stretch hamstrings without this associated back pain or correct way to bend at the waist? Thank you!
I don’t know for sure. The first thing I’d check is if you’re able to just move from the pelvis without the spine compensating.
If that’s good, then you might have a funny twist in the spine or ribs.
How do you go "around" the area that your trying to soften and let go? Makes sense but HOW do you do it?
Cool question. Usually these areas you can think of like a pinpoint target. As you go toward the center, it gets more intense (whether that be stretch or pain). So stay on the outside edge instead of going toward the center. Then you can see about trying to circulate around it. So instead of just coming from one angle, try coming from another angle.
Hope that makes sense.
What’s your thoughts on self applied pressure with a block or other pressure tool with deep diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system while the pressure on the fascia allows the tissue to “free up” or melt?
I’m making a video about this soon.
I think it’s potentially really great. I’ve had good experiences with self massage and releasing. The main thing is that you are working with the nervous system internally. Relaxing. If you are not, it will not be effective long term.
Make a lot of sense. Less is more.
Amen.