*Yoga Hands & Feet*

I don't mind using straps in class when needed, if we're doing leg stretches of the sort but man does the gripping hurt my hands. I'm wondering what can I do about that? I doubt it's arthritis (eep!) and my hands don't usually bother me in any other instance, just when I'm gripping and pulling on a strap. The only thing I can really think of to strengthen your hands is to squeeze one of those stress balls but is there anything else?

A new thing my teacher is making us do is Ardha Matsyendrasana a different way:



What you see this lady doing is how I usually do this pose and how most people do this pose. Notice where her left foot is. Now check this guy out:



Where is his foot (in this case the right)? Oh yeah, he's SITTING on it! The foot is suppose to stay flexed while one cheek sits on your heel and the other sits on the ball of your foot. Good luck with that! It's murder on my feet and my poor, poor pinky toes. They have not forgiven me for doing this to them. This, along with Supta Virasana, may be something that'll take years if ever to master.