Yoga

[nod]

Hi Treespyder

 

Very interesting to read your thoughts on tree climbings relation to yoga practice. Obviously it's correct that we do, in many cases, indulge in long stretches but the fact that our bodies are taut whilst making these movements means that it is quite far from the relaxed, deep stretches that yoga encourages. In Astanga we are taught that breath & bandas (internal musclular locks) come before all else. Breath will create harmony between body & mind during practice & engaging the bandas creates focus & protects the body whilst moving into & out of postures. The connection between breath & movement would outweigh purely a deep stretch without breath control/focus.

 

I think that an interesting aspect of the tree climbers anatomy, in general, is how very inflexible we are. Often focusing on strength over technique means that muscles can become exaggerated which in turn can pull the bodys skeletal balance out of alignment. I realise that we do have a job to do & that we usually rate getting it done higher than how we get it done in terms of our bodily needs. There has been much talk & rant regarding ergonomic design in tree work over recent times & I feel that a connection/understanding of body mechanics will help the individual far more than any design; i.e. it's simple to use an ergo harness in a very unergo manner due to our movements & the way we wear it. In the same vein it's just as simple to use some harnesses that have had little or no ergo design aspect put into them in a very ergonomic fashion.

 

If we learn alot about trees we can begin to understand how to look after them in a good way; if learn alot about our bodys we can begin to understand how to use them without impacting too heavily on them.

 

This is not another rant but just a few thoughts from my own yoga practice & tree climbing exposes.

 

Cheers

Nod

[tockmal]

Yeah Nod...I agree.....that Treemotion harness is all hype.

 

I have a friend who uses a Sierra Moreno leg loop harness and climbs in the most fluent and ergonomically aware fashion I have ever seen, now that harness is American old school, whereas the Treemotion is too cool for school!

 

I'm glad I've someone on the same wavelength.

[nod]

Yeah Nod...I agree.....that Treemotion harness is all hype.

 

I have a friend who uses a Sierra Moreno leg loop harness and climbs in the most fluent and ergonomically aware fashion I have ever seen, now that harness is American old school, whereas the Treemotion is too cool for school!

 

I'm glad I've someone on the same wavelength.

 

Hi Tockmal

 

I'm not quite sure how you managed to construct your reply following my post, I don't see the connection at all.

 

My understanding of hype is where the designer, manufacturer or supplier of an article push its worthiness excessively, possibly for financial gain or credibility. I don't see this as being the case with the treeMotion harness. I have only read peer review & comments from users of the harness or questions directed at its designers which have been answered without any hype.

 

My post was regarding yoga practice & tree climbing!

 

Cheers

Nod

[tockmal]

i.e. it's simple to use an ergo harness in a very unergo manner due to our movements & the way we wear it.

 

I just assumed you were talkng about the TreeMotion, cause a lot of talk about it has been about the ergo factor, what with the low back support etc.

[High Scale]

OK, it's not yoga but every morning, on the way to work I always have a hot water bottle on my back, this was advised by my therapeutic massage lady, I have found that it really helps to get my back nicely warmed up, I also wear a back support when I climb.

[munkymadman]

i've been doing yoga in the mornings, along with cardio, before work, more cardio afterwork, along with weights. my shoulders progressively getting worst (so i've quit the gym). still doing yoga though, but i'm not sure if its helping. is it advised to do alot of stretching for a damaged body part. i'm 24 and starting to panic a bit, i shouldn't be reaching burnout yet. have to go see a few specialists, do shoulders recover?

[treejumper]

For many years I used yoga as part of my stretching routine for karate

[benedmonds]

I used to do yoga and got a lot out of it, I should make the time to do it again.. it's amazing how much of a work out you can get without jumping around. My sister is a bit of a guru very bendy.

 

Generally climbing trees we resort to brute strength, which resorts in us screwing up our bodies. I'm not half a flexible as I was in the past but stronger. We always have big decent holds and something grab on to.

 

I did a rock climbing course a few years back, the little French instructor was mortified by my style. When climbing on rock you need to use more skill as your holds are much smaller. If you watch decent rock climbers it like dance, slow fluid movements. I try to do this tree climbing, self belaying gets in the way and when you can simply prussic up it is simpler..

[Jason James Gairn]

If you watch decent rock climbers it like dance, slow fluid movements. I try to do this tree climbing, self belaying gets in the way and when you can simply prussic up it is simpler..

 

A few years back I watched the climb competition at Highclear. I have a background in rock climbing and was interested to see the top climbers were slow and methodical making deliberate movements with fluidity usually reserved for martial arts and rock climbing. (interesting that Nod was one of them) I have always allowed my rock experience to influence my tree climbing. I think most good rock climbers do some form of yoga every day.

Having said that, I haven't yogised for some years now. Time.

[Robert_S]

i've been doing yoga in the mornings, along with cardio, before work, more cardio afterwork, along with weights. my shoulders progressively getting worst (so i've quit the gym). still doing yoga though, but i'm not sure if its helping. is it advised to do alot of stretching for a damaged body part. i'm 24 and starting to panic a bit, i shouldn't be reaching burnout yet. have to go see a few specialists, do shoulders recover?

 

I have had lots of injuries mate you will recover, if you are stretching an injury try and stay in the range just below the pain then progress to full movements (may take a while) works for me i also find that isometric strength exercises are brilliant for repairing the damage i get, ive wrecked my rotator cuffs on both shoulders and fixed them (well got good movement and strength back) go and see a specialist but pay good money as the cheap ones can give you wrong advice.