unless you are hypermobile or incredibly flexible, BEND YOUR KNEES. Bending your knees will help you get into your hips and keep your spine long. Even bend your knees in the pyramid pose. It’s ok to bend your kness. Also, even if you can do it with straight legs, a micro bend in your knees will keep you from locking out the pose. You don’t want rigidity. So many of my students think that they must have straight legs in every pose and they sacrifice the tall spine for the legs, and don’t get into their hips.
Her explanations are 100% TOP TIER!!! I was doing a video and we were doing a triangle pose and she said, "If you bum is poking out, push it in like you're trying to fit through a tight space". I did and immediately felt the difference. The smallest adjustments make a huge difference & she does an exemplary job of explaining them.
Thank you! I also teach them to bend knees in a Forward fold instead of rounding the back. We have long muscles on the back, so beginners need to stretch them first, which is achieved in a forward fold with long back ❤
The quality of my classes have improved so much thanx to you dear Charlie. Also your video on how to sequence has been so useful. My mental blocks have almost gone. Gratitude from India.
You are an amazing person and instructor! I can see through your eyes, smile and voice how nice personé you are ! Being an instructor for 9 years , always enjoy and appreciate your demonstrations. Namaste
As a non-flexible guy that has been working on this via martial arts for 12 years, I’ve come a long way but still have more to go and really appreciate these phenomenal tips!! Also, when you tilt your pelvis forward in the pyramid stance… wow. Such beauty.
I really appreciate these instructions as a beginner yogi! I couldn’t do this and felt bad about it! Now, I’ll just follow the instructions and I know it will work as it worked with me previously 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Whenever I do this stretch I always tell myself to keep my knees straight. I see now that that part can be worked on later, what's important is the back stretch. Thank you.
Your tips are GOLD. I do the LesMills BodyBalance class twice a week, and I have to say you have helped me so much that I really want to do better and go further, and I want to thank you for that. I am to become a fitness trainer myself early next year and you inspire me a lot :)
You can also put something like a roller or a rolled blanket under your knees to help give you some more space to help you learn to hinge from your waist.
the biggest problem i see as a fitness trainer is: people want to be able to do something so bad that they throw technique and posture over board andbtry to reach the „end position“ just to have a feeling of achievement and not being „bad“. they are unhappy if they can only reach their shins in a forward fold, they WANT to grab the toes, no matter how bad the technique gets 😅 people need to learn to make smaller steps and know their body! i have a class for back and core excercises. i have a 67 yo that cannot even stand straight. and i have a 28 yo fit guy in the same class. i give them variations (e.g. planks on knees vs. on toes plus maybe extra movements). i regularly see the elderly or less able people try harder variations although they already struggled with the lighter variation. then they collapse and get nothing done. i try very hard to tell and teach them to find their own variation and listen to their body. tell them to pay attention to their posture. look into the mirror to check your posture. but sometimes they just don’t listen. i think that’s a big problem.
I agree and in some ways I think it's innately human. People, wether they realise it or not, have a need to do more, to push further and make progress. I think the "want to be able to do something so bad" as you put it stems from that and I don't think it's a bad thing. I like to reframe it and tell people that being ambitious, with their practice or whatever it is in life isn't a bad thing, it's great, but like everything too much of something can be bad. That's why I'm trying to advocate progress without the need for perfection, where progress can be playful instead of performative. It sounds like you share my values and it's great to hear another teacher sharing the same message.
@@CharlieFollows I totally share your views and OG's on that matter. There isn't a single class in which I don't have to insist on good posture over weights / performance. It is so difficult to make people understand that doing the easier variation with a perfect form is greater that a harder one with terrible form.
Charlie your videos are helpful to me. Thank you. Can you please post a video to increase the shoulder reachability from back ie iam not able to do namaste from back or lift my hands up by interlocking fingers from the back
Late to comment but in case anyone else comes with the same question: the simple solution is to create space between the legs for the belly to go into. Amber Karnes has a good video on this from way back if anyone wants to go digging for it. It’s so important to say that there is simple physics at play here: if you have belly being squished against your legs, there is going to be a limitation to how far forward you are going to be able to go. Just opening your legs to hip width (or wider) can make the fold a lot more like a fold and less like a fight against your own body 😇
fantastic advice, but i don’t see rounding the back in forward fold as “cheating,” at least not all the time. sometimes, i’ll bend my knees slightly so i can relax my torso and drape over my legs. it doesn’t do as much for hip flexion, but it gives me an amazing stretch and eventual release in the low back.
Dear Charlie Madam. I can very easily do the handstand only and only because of your guidance. Beautiful from within you are Madam. So composed your whole being is. Abundance wished to you in all that you do. Namo namah
Hi, a great video there ❤️ I'm slim & active but I don't know why I can't bend all the way forward whether seated or standing up. Does that mean I have very stiff hips or hamstrings? So do I keep practising the 1st move until I can touch my toes? Thank u
@@CharlieFollows thank u so much for your reply 🙏🏻 do u have yoga moves/poses that work on hamstrings & quads to help someone with my condition? I'd love to tackle the issue right away 👍🏻 thxx again 🌹
I Love the one with the arms behind the back. I will use that in my classes, I always cue lengthening the back and keeping it long, but there some students who either don't have a feeling of how curved their back gets or focus on the touching toes part 😅
I’m so inflexible that I can’t even straighten my spine when I’m sitting upright in pike position. I hate always hearing to not round my spine in positions where I’m not physically able to keep my spine straight 😭😭😭. It seems like people are unaware about how inflexible a lot of people are.
I have never been able to touch my toes. I think being an awesome runner hampers this some. I will definitely give this a try. By the way, you have cute feet.
Actually I am getting pain under knees when I am trying to bend😢 I want to know the reason because I badly want to do good forward fold while doing surya namaskar
No ! Nothing works with me ! I’ve been exercising and doing yoga for years but my legs never cooperate! I’ll have to break my bones to do that 😅 Maybe we can just accept that some things are never for us lol
Anytime I've tried this or a similar pose, it kills my back. I have scoliosis and im not sure if its that or i just need to work more on my flexibility/mobility. I really dont know how because i cant get even remotely close to where youre at
When i try to touch my toes while sitting i always get a really clenching pain in my upper back. Does anybody know why that is the case and how to avoid it?
unless you are hypermobile or incredibly flexible, BEND YOUR KNEES. Bending your knees will help you get into your hips and keep your spine long. Even bend your knees in the pyramid pose. It’s ok to bend your kness. Also, even if you can do it with straight legs, a micro bend in your knees will keep you from locking out the pose. You don’t want rigidity. So many of my students think that they must have straight legs in every pose and they sacrifice the tall spine for the legs, and don’t get into their hips.
Thank you for this!!!
So much easier to pull or strain muscles with locked joints, thank you for the tip ❤
@@Marru987 my pleasure!
@@boodledemic6430 you’re welcome!
YES!
th-cam.com/video/kRiudRykGWg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=94J9dXrDC_Als-qY
Very good explanation!
Thanks Gordon
Her explanations are 100% TOP TIER!!! I was doing a video and we were doing a triangle pose and she said, "If you bum is poking out, push it in like you're trying to fit through a tight space". I did and immediately felt the difference. The smallest adjustments make a huge difference & she does an exemplary job of explaining them.
Thank you! I also teach them to bend knees in a Forward fold instead of rounding the back. We have long muscles on the back, so beginners need to stretch them first, which is achieved in a forward fold with long back ❤
Old man here, thank you, I needed to hear this
So it’s about focusing on pelvic stretching and back as well ?
Thanks for the insight ❤
I definitely mostly feel my back muscles!!
The quality of my classes have improved so much thanx to you dear Charlie. Also your video on how to sequence has been so useful. My mental blocks have almost gone. Gratitude from India.
This is amazing feedback, thank you so much for sharing with me
What a beautiful feminine elegant soft spoken woman
You are an amazing person and instructor!
I can see through your eyes, smile and voice how nice personé you are !
Being an instructor for 9 years , always enjoy and appreciate your demonstrations.
Namaste
The most kind lady on TH-cam. I have to wear sunglasses because of all her light 💡☀️👀😎 ❤️
Thank you Charlie your teaching is brilliant.
That was sooo needed for me... I've always tried to wonder how to get there... Gonna try it❤
I feel so positive after watching your videos 🙂
Awe thank you I’m so happy they have that effect on you
@@CharlieFollows ❤️
As a non-flexible guy that has been working on this via martial arts for 12 years, I’ve come a long way but still have more to go and really appreciate these phenomenal tips!!
Also, when you tilt your pelvis forward in the pyramid stance… wow. Such beauty.
I really appreciate these instructions as a beginner yogi! I couldn’t do this and felt bad about it! Now, I’ll just follow the instructions and I know it will work as it worked with me previously 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Wow. I never heard of these ways to get better at this. Makes so much sense. Thank you.
Thank you Barbara I’m happy I could share something different
You’re a legend Charlie been following you for ages. Thanks and Blessings
Thank you so much, Charlie🎉❤🎉
U seem so selfless and helpful i find yr videos very useful
Thank you that’s so kind
THANKS FOR THE TIPS!
Gawd! I'm SO TIGHT 😮!
My mom is 30 years older than me and loves to flex that she can fold like this, so I’m gonna try and be able to do it too lol
I was literally wondering about this, this morning! Thank you for the explanation 😊
Hi Charlie you are too good and the way you explain is so simple and easy to get going luv you❤Charlie I luv alll your vedios 😘
Whenever I do this stretch I always tell myself to keep my knees straight. I see now that that part can be worked on later, what's important is the back stretch. Thank you.
Your tips are GOLD.
I do the LesMills BodyBalance class twice a week, and I have to say you have helped me so much that I really want to do better and go further, and I want to thank you for that.
I am to become a fitness trainer myself early next year and you inspire me a lot :)
You make it so very doable😍💕
Thank you I’m glad you think so
Thank u so much this helps me now I'm so close but the pain hurts but I used to last 1 second now I last 5 seconds❤
You can also put something like a roller or a rolled blanket under your knees to help give you some more space to help you learn to hinge from your waist.
the biggest problem i see as a fitness trainer is: people want to be able to do something so bad that they throw technique and posture over board andbtry to reach the „end position“ just to have a feeling of achievement and not being „bad“. they are unhappy if they can only reach their shins in a forward fold, they WANT to grab the toes, no matter how bad the technique gets 😅 people need to learn to make smaller steps and know their body!
i have a class for back and core excercises. i have a 67 yo that cannot even stand straight. and i have a 28 yo fit guy in the same class. i give them variations (e.g. planks on knees vs. on toes plus maybe extra movements). i regularly see the elderly or less able people try harder variations although they already struggled with the lighter variation. then they collapse and get nothing done. i try very hard to tell and teach them to find their own variation and listen to their body. tell them to pay attention to their posture. look into the mirror to check your posture. but sometimes they just don’t listen. i think that’s a big problem.
I agree and in some ways I think it's innately human. People, wether they realise it or not, have a need to do more, to push further and make progress. I think the "want to be able to do something so bad" as you put it stems from that and I don't think it's a bad thing. I like to reframe it and tell people that being ambitious, with their practice or whatever it is in life isn't a bad thing, it's great, but like everything too much of something can be bad. That's why I'm trying to advocate progress without the need for perfection, where progress can be playful instead of performative. It sounds like you share my values and it's great to hear another teacher sharing the same message.
The biggest problem in the world today is lack of patience. Everyone wants results yesterday and when it don't come overnight they give up
@@CharlieFollows I totally share your views and OG's on that matter. There isn't a single class in which I don't have to insist on good posture over weights / performance. It is so difficult to make people understand that doing the easier variation with a perfect form is greater that a harder one with terrible form.
Modern problem: no time to learn anything, only time to do or know.
Thank you for your tips and tricks❤
I really LOVE your videos ❤❤ thank you a lot
Thank you so much
It's very helpful. Thank you
Thank you I’m glad you think so
Charlie your videos are helpful to me. Thank you. Can you please post a video to increase the shoulder reachability from back ie iam not able to do namaste from back or lift my hands up by interlocking fingers from the back
Omg ur the best❤🎉😊
Very useful tips; thank you very much !
So grateful you found me!
I like the hands behind your back cue.
It’s a real game changer
Amazing thank you, never had it broken down! Xxxx
You are welcome I hope this helps
Good explanation, works fine for people who do not have a large chest or belly. How would you adjust this for larger people?
Late to comment but in case anyone else comes with the same question: the simple solution is to create space between the legs for the belly to go into. Amber Karnes has a good video on this from way back if anyone wants to go digging for it. It’s so important to say that there is simple physics at play here: if you have belly being squished against your legs, there is going to be a limitation to how far forward you are going to be able to go. Just opening your legs to hip width (or wider) can make the fold a lot more like a fold and less like a fight against your own body 😇
Thank youuuu❤
You are welcome
Very good explanation
You are just THE BEST ❤
Great, I'm gonna try this out! Thank you!!
fantastic advice, but i don’t see rounding the back in forward fold as “cheating,” at least not all the time. sometimes, i’ll bend my knees slightly so i can relax my torso and drape over my legs. it doesn’t do as much for hip flexion, but it gives me an amazing stretch and eventual release in the low back.
Good tips. Just a feedback from my personal practice journals, learn to do it with straight legs too even if it means you don't get as far for a time.
Has anyone told you before that you're sooo cute? Big fan ❤❤
Stunning 💞
Thank you you make it easy
Niiiice😊 will follow these and improve even more now!
I love all your videos @Charlie Follows 🌹
Here u earned a subscriber.
Thank you Heena
Fantastic! 😃👍🏻
Do you have a longer follow-along video for this?
Dear Charlie Madam.
I can very easily do the handstand only and only because of your guidance.
Beautiful from within you are Madam.
So composed your whole being is.
Abundance wished to you in all that you do.
Namo namah
Very well explained
Very nice🔥
Hi, a great video there ❤️ I'm slim & active but I don't know why I can't bend all the way forward whether seated or standing up. Does that mean I have very stiff hips or hamstrings? So do I keep practising the 1st move until I can touch my toes? Thank u
Hey it could be tight hamstrings possibly and weak hip flexors. I would focus on strengthening the quads and stretching the hamstrings.
@@CharlieFollows thank u so much for your reply 🙏🏻 do u have yoga moves/poses that work on hamstrings & quads to help someone with my condition? I'd love to tackle the issue right away 👍🏻 thxx again 🌹
it's not "cheating" if you round your back, if your attention is to also stretch your back. it's called a jefferson curl.
What clothing brand do you buy from for yoga?
I like lots of different brands, my favourites are we are tala, all yoga and sweaty Betty.
Amazing 👏
I tried this and it helped immediately. Thank you!
But, what does it bring in terms of functional movements?
I Love the one with the arms behind the back. I will use that in my classes, I always cue lengthening the back and keeping it long, but there some students who either don't have a feeling of how curved their back gets or focus on the touching toes part 😅
I was thinking about it 😮
Can belly fat stop u from doing this?🤔🤔
I follow you and I have to tell you that you are amazing, thank you
Great information ☺️
Thank you
I’m so inflexible that I can’t even straighten my spine when I’m sitting upright in pike position. I hate always hearing to not round my spine in positions where I’m not physically able to keep my spine straight 😭😭😭. It seems like people are unaware about how inflexible a lot of people are.
Great video, but ngl, i could barely lean even 5* forward with my shoulder blades locked LOL gonna keep practicing for sure though
I have just fallen in love with you ❤❤❤❤LONDON LEE 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴
I have never been able to touch my toes. I think being an awesome runner hampers this some. I will definitely give this a try. By the way, you have cute feet.
Actually I am getting pain under knees when I am trying to bend😢 I want to know the reason because I badly want to do good forward fold while doing surya namaskar
Toe toches for 2-5 sec hold is dynamic or static?
What’s the shirt thing you’re wearing?
I will definitely try I am 70 y o
I used to be flexible like that when I was in my thirties.
Thank you
No ! Nothing works with me ! I’ve been exercising and doing yoga for years but my legs never cooperate! I’ll have to break my bones to do that 😅
Maybe we can just accept that some things are never for us lol
What if I feel the sciatic nerve? (no injury)
Anytime I've tried this or a similar pose, it kills my back. I have scoliosis and im not sure if its that or i just need to work more on my flexibility/mobility. I really dont know how because i cant get even remotely close to where youre at
"Forget about your back... make sure to keep your back straight!"
"If your forward fold looks like this"
Have you been spying on me?
great thanks!
you are a very cute little woman, and give good explanations! So thanks for being a cute little woman while teaching me stuff!
Excellent
thank you
Damn....block beyond the toes..woo
Folding from the hips has been an amazing tip to fold 😮
You are one gorgeous woman
My forward fold looks like I’m sitting in a recliner 😅
Thanks Mam
My stomach is in the way. Do you have a stretch for that?
Yes you could practice standing with the legs wider than hips width apart or you could do the same sitting with the legs wider.
Ty!
how do you bring your hands behind your back?
What do you mean?
Tried to do it, but i didn't listen correctly, and now i can permanently know what's on the bottom of my feet.
Iyengar training?
Nice 👍
Good good
Brasil 🎉.
while sitting down and keep knees straight am nt able to move a inch forward too means am soo weak pls someone help me
Thanku i need that top under top
My forward fold looks like: if I don't put my hands on the mat behind my back, I will fall backwards. :(
Delicious ❤
When i try to touch my toes while sitting i always get a really clenching pain in my upper back. Does anybody know why that is the case and how to avoid it?
😢 ok..u cought me.
I do try to cheat.
I do round foward.
😫