Open up those hamstrings

I have been teaching for a month now.  Talk about seeing is believing, or maybe "seeing, I can't believe what I am seeing."  As a yoga student,  I practice what feels right for me, I am flexible, forward bending, side bending, twisting, not a problem for me.  I go to class just to be on the mat with teacher cueing me poses after poses. I know how to flow, according to my own body.  So now, I am on the other side of things, being a teacher, teaching body awareness to my students, most of them, beginners have been an eye opener.  I have been teaching yoga fundamentals, the mechanics of a downward dog, inhale/exhale with movements.  The most important, the breath.  The general population always associate yoga with "Flexibility" and "Zen".  But what exactly being zen means? Why we think flexibility is a prerequisite for getting on the mat for some yoga?

First, flexibility - where does flexibility come from in your body?! bones? tendons? muscles? Perhaps is a combination of things, since our body is a complicated networks of bones, tendons, muscles, fibers, and mind. 

Second, what does being "Zen" feels like? This is google search's meaning: Zen (noun) - a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.  Geez, it's not even a verb.  This is urban dictionary's meaning: One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts.

I am not feeling zen right now because I am not sure what is my point for this blog....Grrrrrr.

Long story short - flexibility, I am seeing a lot of tight hips and tight hamstrings. Maye we should focus on these muscle groups instead of that tight 6-packs abs.  The hip is an extreme complicated network of muscle groups which affects both upper and lower body.  If these muscles are not "flexible".  It can create bad postures that eventually will lead to back pains, forget about jumping into a flow yoga routine, your back is not going to like it.  So now, you know, the illusion of being "flexible" for yoga really comes from taking care of those hamstrings of yours. 

Experiment: 30 days challenge of hip/hamstring stretches for my soccer family: coach and my son. I look forward to see the effects.