Nerves

 

Peripheral nerves are unlikely to undergo neural tension in this pose.

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Notes

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This pose requires strength and mobility of many joints of the body, particularly the hips, knees and ankles. This pose may therefore be challenging to those who whose cultures do not incorporate it into their daily lives. Malasana may thus also be telling of present impairments in the person performing it.

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• Lifting of the heels may indicate: tightness of the soleus or achilles tendon. 

• Excessive arch/lordosis of the lower back as one transitions from standing to malasana, may indicate: tight hip flexors, possibly compensating for weak core muscles. 

• Lumbar kyphosis may indicate: weak erector spinae muscles or tight hamstrings. 

• Excessive external rotation of the feet and collapse of the medial arches of the feet may occur by compensating for the following factors: tightness in the hamstrings, tightness in the hip external rotators or weakness of the gluteus medius.

• Internal rotation of the hips/knee collapse into valgus could indicate: weak gluteus muscles, tight adductors or tight TFL/ITB.

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Precautions or contraindications

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Avoid or modify if any of the following conditions are present:

• Lower back injury

• Hip injury

• Knee or ankle injury e.g. ligament rupture

• Pregnancy

• After running (increased stress on the ankles and knee may result in tissue injury)