Skip to main content
Martial Arts

Return to Question

Tweeted twitter.com/StackMartialArt/status/876013203494498304
Mod Moved Comments To Chat
Added rationale for why this is a fundamental position for my martial arts training, and not just some random yoga pose
Source Link
Beofett
Beofett
  • 143
  • 6

I've just started Kung Fu a little over a week ago. I'm older (43), big (tall, and still slightly overweight), and haven't done any serious exercise in... well, longer than I care to admit.

I feel like I'm really struggling to maintain even a semblance of the pose. I'm not able to get my knees down, and I can't even begin to attempt a half lotus, let alone a full lotus. During meditation, or any of our exercises from that pose, I am struggling to keep from slouching over, and keep feeling like I'm going to roll backwards. Since a lot of our work on breathing is supposed to be done from this position, and breathing techniques are a pretty important part of training, I want to get at least comfortable enough in this position that I can focus on breathing, instead of not falling over.

I don't expect increasing my strength and flexibility to be fast, but I'd like advice on what I can do at home to help work on this, to maintain steady and efficient progress.

What specific exercises should I be working on?

I've just started Kung Fu a little over a week ago. I'm older (43), big (tall, and still slightly overweight), and haven't done any serious exercise in... well, longer than I care to admit.

I feel like I'm really struggling to maintain even a semblance of the pose. I'm not able to get my knees down, and I can't even begin to attempt a half lotus, let alone a full lotus. During meditation, or any of our exercises from that pose, I am struggling to keep from slouching over, and keep feeling like I'm going to roll backwards.

I don't expect increasing my strength and flexibility to be fast, but I'd like advice on what I can do at home to help work on this, to maintain steady and efficient progress.

What specific exercises should I be working on?

I've just started Kung Fu a little over a week ago. I'm older (43), big (tall, and still slightly overweight), and haven't done any serious exercise in... well, longer than I care to admit.

I feel like I'm really struggling to maintain even a semblance of the pose. I'm not able to get my knees down, and I can't even begin to attempt a half lotus, let alone a full lotus. During meditation, or any of our exercises from that pose, I am struggling to keep from slouching over, and keep feeling like I'm going to roll backwards. Since a lot of our work on breathing is supposed to be done from this position, and breathing techniques are a pretty important part of training, I want to get at least comfortable enough in this position that I can focus on breathing, instead of not falling over.

I don't expect increasing my strength and flexibility to be fast, but I'd like advice on what I can do at home to help work on this, to maintain steady and efficient progress.

What specific exercises should I be working on?

Source Link
Beofett
Beofett
  • 143
  • 6

How do I increase my flexibility to obtain a full lotus position?

I've just started Kung Fu a little over a week ago. I'm older (43), big (tall, and still slightly overweight), and haven't done any serious exercise in... well, longer than I care to admit.

I feel like I'm really struggling to maintain even a semblance of the pose. I'm not able to get my knees down, and I can't even begin to attempt a half lotus, let alone a full lotus. During meditation, or any of our exercises from that pose, I am struggling to keep from slouching over, and keep feeling like I'm going to roll backwards.

I don't expect increasing my strength and flexibility to be fast, but I'd like advice on what I can do at home to help work on this, to maintain steady and efficient progress.

What specific exercises should I be working on?