Ankle pain with yoga

I've started doing yoga recently and noticed while doing warrior 2 pose and any other high lunge, the muscle right above the outer ankle bone on my back leg starts burning. I'm about 270 pounds and not terribly flexible which leads me to ask, is this a strength or a flexibility issue? Should I push through or how do I modify the pose without losing its benefits?

Replies

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    DyneSalcar wrote: »
    is this a strength or a flexibility issue?

    Hard to tell, but that's not common. Try this stretch a few times a day to see if it helps. Do you have flat foot arches?
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Suggest just to do a modification of lesser stress.

    With yoga amoung other things we tend to push what seems naturally easy to some. When actually we need to take what we are capable of as a individual and think long term we will get there.

    Strength or flexibility or combo of both makes no difference. Adherence to your goal will take care of both.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I encourage you to talk with your instructor about this. She can see you and help you reposition.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    i suggest modification and going to actual classes so an instructor can help you find the correct alignment and modification for your body. this will help you avoid injury
  • DyneSalcar
    DyneSalcar Posts: 45 Member
    Taking classes and having an instructor would be wonderful but I can't afford that right now. I'll try to modify to a milder angle and see if that helps
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    DyneSalcar wrote: »
    Taking classes and having an instructor would be wonderful but I can't afford that right now. I'll try to modify to a milder angle and see if that helps

    Many yoga studios have new student discounts or occasional free classes. My studio has a free class once a month and a 10 day pass for new students, $20 for as many classes as you want in that time. It would be well worth checking for free or discounted yoga in your area. Videos, websites, and random internet people do not replace the expertise of a good teacher, and you can hurt yourself doing poses incorrectly. As my teacher says, if it hurts, it’s not yoga.