Exploring anjaneyasana (low lunge pose) in the context of buckling, bracing, yielding.

Buckling – limited muscle engagement throughout, increased extension at the lumbar and cervical spine, anterior pelvic tilt hanging on ligaments, shoulder hyper-extension. Discomfort at low back.

Bracing – stiff throughout pelvis and trunk region, feels stable, but no experience of hip flexor stretch

Yielding Variation 1 – moved front foot forward a little and rocked hips back and forth gently to find stretch at anterior left hip flexor with slight posterior pelvic tilt, blocks under hands for support to limit hanging on ligaments, slight push downwards into blocks also creates a feeling of lifting up and engagement through the scapular muscles. Tried a gentle pulling of the front heel back and back knee towards each other which created an engagement of the leg muscles providing a feeling of stability.

Yielding Variation 2 – tied a resistance band around the pelvis and front knee to provide a tactile cue for a slight posterior pelvic tilt allowing for a hip flexor stretch on the left and glute med engagement of the right leg providing a feeling of grounding and stability. Working into the pull of the band also created a feeling of core engagement and adding the holding the blocks overhead created a feeling of lengthening while engaging through the core. After removing the props and trying to re-create this variation the overall pose felt engaging and provided an experience of strength and grounding while also lengthening.