Hot Yoga Pose Forums > Chapter; Tadasana and Padunghustasana
Like most of our crew, I haven't done toe stand before. I typically do express classes, unless it's a music class, so I haven't even heard the cues for toe stand before! Learning the script has been helpful. My class schedule for school is changing, so I'm going to switch my regular yoga classes for the next few weeks, meaning that I'll be doing one 90-minute class and one express each week. Perfect timing to start practicing toe stand. I did try getting my hands into full prayer this week, and I too have slippery heel syndrome. I am going to try lifting the heel higher into the hip crease and keep opening those hips.
Chrissy Graziano
Brittany the first time you balance in toe stand with both hands in prayer you're going to feel like dancing and wonder what took you so long!
I have done fire walking on hot coals many times and it was just like that/ it seems illogical as does balancing your entire body weight on the edge of your big toe but after you do it once your "logic" will be replaced by your exhilaration
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I don’t know about hot coals Rhonda lol but what I’ve found in toe stand that’s helped me with balance has been spreading the weight over the joints of my toes and using them to dig in and activiate to hold my weight effectively. My question comes from why I can tow stand on the right but not the left. Is it as simple as dominant sides?
Stephanie
Personally, Steph, I find that balancing on the inner edge of the big toe in Toe Stand has the edge for me - this feels like I am floating and light on my feet! Balance is a delicate issue: of course it can be explained anatomically, but think of the psychological and emotional feelings that come with the word "balance" and know that most physical issues go underneath and way beyond the "limitations: of anatomy. You may not find the root of your issue with balance but you may not need to: you will experience the balance in this pose either as a result of as a way to achieve the balance in all those other important areas of your life. Balance is beautiful...but sometimes being off-balance can be fun too!
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
‘‘This pose continues to be a challenge. What I am focusing on now is keeping the standing leg straight as I hinge at my hips to come back into tree. I think it is tightness in my low back and outer hip. It’s challenging.
Jeanne
This is challenging for me as well, Jeanne, getting the heel up into the hip crease. I feel pain in sciatic region. If feels somewhat good to stretch the area, but don't want to force it.would love to get to experience toe stand.
amy
Im going to suggest something beyond the anatomical for you both Jeanne and Amy: let go of the "challenge"and flow with what feels good to you within the instructions for this pose. Sometimes its your ideas about your limitations that limit you most...
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I enjoy tadasana because it is such a welcomed hip opener for me that I definitely need, especially for the left hip. It’s been a work in progress to relax the left knee down to pull the left heel high up into the left hip crease. I’m cautious because I don’t want to injure my knees. I have been able to go further with my right hip opening with my right heel staying high into the left hip crease. An aha moment for me is listening to the cue of dangle your arms to the floor and lean forward into the fingertips, I just trust myself to do this and sit, hovering over me heels into Padanghustasana, toe stand.
maria
I find the asymmetry in my body to be the most pronounced in this pose. I love the feeling I get when I push the hip forward and feel the opening in the hip. I would love to stand in this pose longer. During the lesson there was a comment that if you have done number of the classes you are ready to try to do a toe stand. However, One of my sides is still pretty tight and I cant bring the foot into the crease. It feels that I should wait till that happens. I am considering trying the other side which is more flexible.
Irina
I am with Irina. It was funny that on our TT call we talked about someone practicing more than three months and not attempting Toe Stand. In off and on five years I tried once. This past Saturday morning, I took it to toe stand. Wow, my right outer hip was tight on Saturday morning, though after the attempt it felt better all day. The left side was looser and I got down with my fingertips on the mat and came back up properly. Ah success. I felt better for having pushed past my comfort zone and it was the highlight of the day.
Paula
Like Paula and Irina, I've been doing Hot Yoga for almost 2 years now and I have not tried Toe Stand yet either...is it possible to go into this pose during an Express class or are they only for Music and 90 minute classes? Either way, after reading Irina and Paula's posts I can't wait to try it. Tree pose is already my favorite pose, I think I am ready to expand it further. I don't always feel perfect is Tree Pose but I think the point is just to try and see what happens!
Pamela
Pamela, Paula and Irina - you are all in sync on this and all correct: if you havent tried toe stand after a reasonable amount of time in Hot 26 (I would say 20 classes MAX) then its really fear thats holding you back. TOE STAND ROCKS! And yes, though your heel should be in your hip crease Irina, try TOE-ing on the other side where the heel is wedged in nicely. Paula, so happy to hear that the tight hip opened for you upon your Toe Stand attempt...and yes, it been said that hanging out in "the comfort zone" is what holds you back - but personally I believe "comfort" is a GREAT place to bask and we can all do ourselves a WORLD of good being in it. But its usually not comfort that keeps us out of Toe Stand...its fear. And habit. And loss of mindfulness in asana to know when we're ready to move on. So When do you know you're ready to move to Toe Stand? Listen for the impulse when you're in Tree Pose. (And yes, Pamela, you only get Tree in the 60 minute class so you need a 90 to try Toe).
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I know that it is fear that is keeping me from doing toe stand--I keep thinking I will try it at home first without an "audience"--not that anyone else is that concerned about what I am doing, and then I don't do it. And I have not been doing hot yoga consistently for as long as some of my fellow TTs, but I think Holly and I started at a studio near her house in April of 2018. I will try it soon--worst case I have to roll over to get up.
irenem
I love this pose its the final culmination of strength and balance. I can get my knees level most days and feel that I am ready to test out the toe stand.
Erica
Erica - yes, go for Toestand! Half the preparedness is feeling ready = and you do! Sometimes students get so used to NOT trying Toestand they hang out in Tree pose where the standing balancing feels, admittedly, beautifully grounding...but Toestand is ready and waiting to show you that you can FLY! Thats how it feels to be hovering your whole body over your heel. Sounds like you shouldnt be able to do this anatomically - just like bumblebees shouldnt be able to fly at all since their wings are tiny compared to their body weight - but you are WAY more than your physical anatomy and Toestand will prove it to you, when you're ready to toe-in!
Rhonda Uretzky, E-RYT
I have not tried Toe Stand yet. My right knee easily goes down and stays in the hip crease during Tree and I can be in full prayer. My left knee does not go down like my right but it is definitely down further from when I started coming to classes. I'm looking forward to doing toe stand and feeling the benefits.