Can the Hamstrings Ever be Happy? Part 2

Can the hamstrings ever be happy? Part 2.

Last week we focused on working with the hamstrings in terms of bones, muscles and alignment. There is an important piece that was left out that Doug Keller, Tom Myers and other wonderful teachers are paying more attention to, and that is the fascia.

What is fascia? Fascia is the connective tissue that is developed early on in the embryo and surrounds and holds muscles, muscles groups, muscle fibers, blood vessels and nerves together. The most superficial layer lies just under the surface of the skin and acts like a glove holding the entire body together. It is both thin and strong. This might seem a little gross, but if you have ever looked at a chicken breast and noticed the whitish colored thin sheets between the skin and the meat, that is fascia.

It makes sense then that if we try to stretch a muscle without attending to the glove encasing it, we might not get too far. Doug Keller states that “in contemporary theory, especially based on studies of embryology, it is the connective tissue of the body that seems to function in the way that Prana was described by the yogis.” Working with the fascia allows our whole body to breathe.

So how can we work with the fascia? In ShivaShakti Synthesis we focus a lot on warm-ups. Warm-ups are a way to create space to let the fascia breathe. Working with marma points, or places where the nadis or energy pathways cross, are another way to open the fascia. They are potent because they are places where energy tends to get blocked, just like any other crossroad. When we work with the marma points we are opening up the pranic pathways, which in turn, according to the science of yoga, opens both the body and mind.

So try this exercise from Doug Keller. At the bottom of the foot is a marma point known as Pada Madhya (pada meaning foot), which is located between the second and third metatarsals at the top of the arch.

Come into an easy uttanasana (standing forward bend). Keep the knees soft so there is no strain.
Gently shift your weight to your right foot.
Take your fingers to your right foot and “goose” the place on your arch described above by gently massaging it and putting slight pressure on it by pulling up. The pressure should feel like a release (not a strain), so as to protect the ligaments that form the arch.
Release the hand and return to placing equal weight on both legs in the forward bend.
Explore the depth of the pose; notice if there is anything different from your first version. Are the hamstrings perhaps more open on that side?

This is an example of working with the fascia through a marma point. By creating space in that energy system, the back of the leg was able to release a bit. Try the other side and then do both at the same time. This marma point does more than help the feet and legs. It is said to also help with headaches, cold feet, insomnia and lightheadedness.

Let me know how it works for you. And as always, I would love to hear from you about what you are interested in.