Often people commence an asana practice with the expectation that the condition of their knees will improve through asanas.  While it is important to rest knees (or indeed any other part of the body) that has been through recent trauma, the healing work has to start with getting back on the legs and re-learning how to use the knees.  Often knee pain comes back as soon as knees are bent – even in asana positions and there might be a sense of disappointment.  Some basic understanding and diagnosis of ones own knee is essential to improve the health of the knee.

For more detailed work with the knees, look at the multi-part short course on Knees: From Healing to Challenging .  This Short Course is available for various levels of practice.  This session (and the linked session Knee Health: Further Diagnostics, and Ways to Improve Knee Health through Asanas), give a simplified explanation.  Some asanas are repeated between the two sessions for reinforcement of the important concepts.

The principles discussed in this  session is suitable even for beginners (we continue to work only with a simple standing and supine Asanas – Tadasana, Virabhadrasana2, Virabhadrasana1, Supta padangusthasana1.  However, some additional props are used.