Avoid erupting like a volcano in yoga class.
Bob is shaking. His muscles are bulging. His face is red. His breath is really harsh. Any second now Bob is going to erupt like a volcano.
Bob is trying way too hard to get into the yoga pose. He is in the Volcano Zone.
What is the Volcano Zone
The Volcano Zone is the place you move to when you are trying way too hard to get into a yoga pose. A lot of bad things happen to you when you enter the Volcano Zone. Bob has convinced himself that he can bind in this particular pose and he is determined to get there.
The Volcano Zone is a dangerous place to be. There are many signs that will tell you if you are in this dangerous place.
How to tell if you are in the Volcano Zone
Watch for these signs to tell if you have entered the Volcano Zone
Harsh breath
Check out the quality of your breath. Are you having trouble getting a full breath in? Are you breathing deep and then holding it as you move into the pose? Is your breath sounding harsh rather than soft? Your breath is telling you that you have entered the Volcano Zone.
Tense muscles
Bob is struggling to enter the pose and bind. The tension in his muscles is increasing. His muscles start to bulge. His face is getting red the harder he tries to get into the pose.
A yoga pose is supposed to be a comfortable and relaxed place to be. For Bob this pose is anything but relaxed and as a result he will feel the effects of the Volcano Zone
What happens when you are in the Volcano Zone
You can injure yourself when you enter the Volcano Zone. You can tear your muscles and ligaments. Your muscles and joints are more likely to get injured when you are in this danger zone.
Because you are struggling so hard to get into a pose your blood pressure will increase and this can cause a lot of problems in your body.
You are increasing the stress in your body as you attempt to push beyond your edge and into the Volcano Zone. When you pass your edge your body tenses up and starts to resist your attempts to go further. Your body is working hard against your efforts to go further to protect itself from injury.
With all of this bad stuff happening when you enter the Volcano Zone, why would you want to be there?
Why you go into the Volcano Zone
There are few reasons why you move into the Volcano Zone
- You want to do the pose as well as the teacher or the person next to you.
- You want to move faster than your body is willing.
- You have been doing yoga for a while now and it is about time that your body started to co-operate.
- Your ego is demanding that you get better at the pose now.
Your ego and competitive nature are what drive you into the Volcano Zone. You are most at risk of entering this zone when you are new to yoga. It is during this time that your ego is pushing you to do the pose better, to be as good as the person next door. Your ego is pushing you to get there faster and move beyond your edge into the Volcano Zone.
The more you struggle to go beyond your edge, the more your body resists you and the harder it becomes to move further into the pose. There is a better way to get further into a yoga pose and avoid the Volcano Zone.
How to avoid the volcano zone
It takes about six months for you get your ego under control and start to accept where you are at in a yoga pose and work within your body’s limitations.
In the mean time you can take these steps when you are in a yoga pose.
Check your breath
The sound of your breath should be soft and sound like the waves on the beach. If your breath is harsh sounding or you are gasping or holding your breath it is time to back off until your breath returns to its correct state.
Check your muscles
Your muscles should be engaged but they should not be bulging and tense. Stop struggling so hard to get into a pose. Find that comfortable but challenging place for your muscles. Your muscles will tell you when you have found your edge. Back off from this challenging place and hold there for a while. Eventually your muscles will relax a little bit and you will be able to move further into the pose without injury.
Check your ego
It does not matter how well the teacher or your neighbour does the pose. Everybody’s ability is different and the right place to be in a pose is different for you.
Sometimes you may not get as far in a pose compared to previous times. When this happens reflect on what went on in your life today that may have led to this lack of flexibility. Is there something that you did or did not do today that has had this negative affect on your yoga. Changing your lifestyle may help you get further with your yoga practice.
Summary
As Bob works to get into the pose he checks his breath and realizes that he has entered the Volcano Zone. He eases up a little bit on his struggles and his breath returns to its normal state and the tension in his muscles reduces greatly.
It has been quite a while since this has happened to Bob. Every now and then his ego takes a hold of him and he pushes to far into a pose.
Next Step
The next time you are in a yoga pose, check your breath, your muscle tension. Stay out of the Volcano Zone and avoid injuring yourself.
Additional Reading
— To find out more about the Edge have a look at Goldilocks and the 3 bears discover the Edge
— To learn more about your breath read How the Ujjayi breath improves your yoga practice
— For some more tips on avoiding injury check out How to avoid yoga injuries: follow these 5 great guidelines
