Does this all make sense?

Is it worth doing it?

These thoughts are doubts. Doubts are obstacles. When creating a plan, doubts might be useful. Yet when the planning phase is finished, doubts are no more useful. They weaken and sabotage the plan.

My plan is to hold one forward bending asana for 5 minutes during my morning practice and I want to hold one forward bending asana for 5 minutes in the evening during a second yoga session. It’s a modest session with pranayama and relaxing. It’s to cool down and to finish the day.

What is a forward bending asana?

Not always this is crystal clear. Whenever the upper body gets closer to the thighs it’s a forward bending asana. Often a position is a combination of forward bending, balancing and twist. Only back bending and forward bending at the same time is not possible. The above asana is a clear forward bending asanas. There is no balancing part. The body is not twisting. Gravity supports the movement. Yet I also use the my arms to take my stretched legs closer to the body.

Again my question? Does this make sense? Especially when practicing alone the question might come up more often than in a yoga class, when a teacher is recommending an exercise. Teacher might be wrong, too.

How to handle doubts?

Experiment for a limited time. Doubts also come up because we don’t see progress at once. Yet stretching needs time. Perhaps progress is not visible at all after a view sessions, but a pose feels much better and familiar. Perhaps one could manage to breathe deeper than before. This is not visible, yet it’s progress.

Nevertheless it might be that progress is visible. Before and after pictures help to build confidence. They also motivate and can give hints for the next steps.

Confidence cures doubts. Firstly one gives a new method a leap of faith. After a while one can check if it was worth it. If yes, one usually becomes more confident for projects to come.

The method in question?

Hold asanas longer than only 5 breaths how we usually do it in Ashtanga Yoga. I want to hold asanas for as long as 5 minutes. Perhaps this cannot be done at once. To start with a holding time of 1 minute is perfect. Injuries are to be avoided. From here it’s possible to lengthen the holding time. I use an interval timer. After every minute I hear a sound. This structure helps to stay in a pose for five minutes, because it’s rather five times one minute than five minutes.

I’m sure that the method makes sense. It’s tested. It’s rather scientifically proved. Now I add my personal experience. I learn how to learn.

I’ll show other forward bending asanas that make sense to hold longer………

Do it every single day.