Whilst some degree of asymmetricality is present in all bods, certainly some old cycling habits can exaggerate this and eventually cause discomfort/ pain etc and the knees are usually the first to pay the price as they are right in the middle of the principal cycling muscle groups. Sorry to hear, but certainly lots you can do to at least alleviate if not eventually eliminate altogether.
Firstly, 'tis a good idea for you to identify where exactly the imbalances lie. Balance postures are great for this as it is immediately obvious which side may be stronger/ weaker etc as well as where on the leg you feel the struggle or the pain. They're also quite fun and very satisfying when mastered! And lastly, they are great at addressing asymmetry. Try:
Vrksasana (tree pose)
Garudasana (eagle pose)
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (standing hand to foot pose) - use a belt around the foot if hamstrings are tight.
Ardha Chandrasana (half moon pose). Try this against a wall first...
Virabhadrasana III (warrior 3, hands on back of chair)
Other poses that deal specifically with leg asymmetry, hamstrings, groin muscles and knee joints include:
Janu Sirsasana (head to knee pose) - again, use a belt around the feet if hamstrings are feeling tight.
Virabhadrasana I (warrior 1)
Utthita Trikonasana (triangle pose)
Ustrasana (camel pose)
What also works particularly well with asymmetry issues is the ability to maintain seated postures for as long as you can. I recommend the following four:
Virasana (hero pose) - if your knees complain, sit up as high as you need to on books placed between the feet.
Sukhasana (easy pose)
Siddhasana (accomplished pose)
Padmasana (lotus) - try this on both sides. Again, if knees complain, try ardha padmasana and/ or place blankets under the knees if neither of them are reaching the floor.
That should keep you going for now! Let me know how you progress...
Hi momentum,
Ta for your post and apologies for delayed reply.
Whilst some degree of asymmetricality is present in all bods, certainly some old cycling habits can exaggerate this and eventually cause discomfort/ pain etc and the knees are usually the first to pay the price as they are right in the middle of the principal cycling muscle groups. Sorry to hear, but certainly lots you can do to at least alleviate if not eventually eliminate altogether.
Firstly, 'tis a good idea for you to identify where exactly the imbalances lie. Balance postures are great for this as it is immediately obvious which side may be stronger/ weaker etc as well as where on the leg you feel the struggle or the pain. They're also quite fun and very satisfying when mastered! And lastly, they are great at addressing asymmetry. Try:
Vrksasana (tree pose)
Garudasana (eagle pose)
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (standing hand to foot pose) - use a belt around the foot if hamstrings are tight.
Ardha Chandrasana (half moon pose). Try this against a wall first...
Virabhadrasana III (warrior 3, hands on back of chair)
Other poses that deal specifically with leg asymmetry, hamstrings, groin muscles and knee joints include:
Janu Sirsasana (head to knee pose) - again, use a belt around the feet if hamstrings are feeling tight.
Virabhadrasana I (warrior 1)
Utthita Trikonasana (triangle pose)
Ustrasana (camel pose)
What also works particularly well with asymmetry issues is the ability to maintain seated postures for as long as you can. I recommend the following four:
Virasana (hero pose) - if your knees complain, sit up as high as you need to on books placed between the feet.
Sukhasana (easy pose)
Siddhasana (accomplished pose)
Padmasana (lotus) - try this on both sides. Again, if knees complain, try ardha padmasana and/ or place blankets under the knees if neither of them are reaching the floor.
That should keep you going for now! Let me know how you progress...