yogabook / explorations / open and close fist

Open and close fist

Feedback: We’d love to hear what you think about this description, give us feedback at:
postmeister@yogabook.org
last update: 12.4.2021
Name: Open and close fist

• Classification
• Contraindication
• Effects
• Preparation
• Follow-up
• derived asanas
• similar asanas
• Diagnostics
• Instructions
• details
• Variants

Instructions

1. Close your fist.
2. A supporter grips the fist firmly from the outside.
3. Try to open your fist against the resistance of the supporter.
4. Open the fist again. Now the supporter clenches his fist tightly.
5. Grasp the supporter’s fist and try to squeeze it further.

details

1. This exploration shows that the finger flexors are significantly stronger than the finger extensors. The supporter can easily tell this from the perceived pressure, even if the supporter takes into account that the palm – not least because of the palmar aponeurosis – is significantly more pressure-tolerant than the back of the hand. While the attempt to squeeze the supporter’s fist can be perceived as very forceful and uncomfortable by the supporter, there is little force available for the counter-movement, the opening of the fist. This results from the everyday movements of our species since the dawn of humanity and even before. All movements and activities that involve gripping, squeezing, squeezing, holding, turning, lifting and carrying with an underhand grip strengthen the finger flexors. The finger extensors, on the other hand, are used exclusively as retractors that enable the fingers to bend again. This is an analogy to locomotion with the lower limb, in which the foot lif ters are only required to perform a renewed plantar flexion and thus contribute to propulsion through the powerful concentric contraction of the triceps surae. The foot lifts, on the other hand, do not actively contribute to propulsion and do not go beyond the role of restoring propulsion.