Hello,

I've been practicing Ashtanga for about 1 year now and all has been going well and smoothly - that was until I tried too hard (and too soon) to get into Marichyasana B and D. With the right knee in half lotus I now feel a slight pinch to the outside of the knee. This also happens when it is completely flexed and also if I hyperextend the knee. It's not terribly painful, but it's there - enough to be a worry. Prior to this I was able to bind in Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana and Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana without any problems to the right knee, now these postures do cause a slight pinch so I'm doing a variation of them to prevent any further injury. I've spoken to my teacher and they've recomended I just modify any posture which causes any type of discomfort.

I'm trying to understand what has been injured in the knee and what exercises I could do to strenghten the knee while no making the problem worse. Looking at pictures on the web of different parts of the knee, it would seem to me like the most likely part I injured is the lateral collateral ligament (the part connected to the femur as that's where the pain seems to originate) - but I'm no doctor.... Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex