Locked Knees: The Showdown

Anyone here a hyperextender like me (see standing leg of the Standing Bow pose in my photos)? After about four years of practicing the wrong way (knee joints locked too far back, weight resting in joints), an instructor (bless her heart) finally got me to soften the knee joints a bit, and start using the strength of the muscles to keep the leg straight and solid. This is much, much, much more difficult (obviously), and I feel like I’m starting all over again. The tops of quads are surprisingly difficult to keep engaged, but when all of the leg muscles are firing together, the ‘no-knee / lamppost’ concept is explained evidently.

However, I am brushing up against a contrast in some teaching styles. Now, it seems, I’m receiving corrections from other teachers to lock my knee out more, which I can feel starts to border on the way I used to be holding these poses. I’m focusing on awareness – and trying to strike the right balance between the two.

Has anyone taken posture clinics or the Advanced Class with Bikram or any of the senior teachers? Any advice they gave help you along the way?

Cedric =)