These posts are about yoga.
Break free from a rut with a practice that offers subtle variations to common poses. AS YOU PRACTICE When you consciously change a habitual action, it’s natu-ral to feel a moment of discomfort or uncertainty. Be patient with yourself as you move through these poses, and observe any unease. Remind yourself that bringing awareness to […]
Embrace the Unfamiliar Read More »
This simple sequence will soften spots that tend to cling to tension (lower backs, hips, thighs) and ground you with squats, passive backbends, mild inversions, and twists. AS YOU PRACTICE Energetically, these poses aim to rebalance apana vayu (downward-moving energy), allowing the mind to calm and the body to relax. This is the perfect sequence
This Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) is a great basic practice. Depending on how many times you repeat the sequence, it can serve as either a mini practice on days when your time is short or a warm-up for a longer session. AS YOU PRACTICE You can alter this Sun Salutation by playing with its pace. If you
Weakness in the hamstrings makes it hard to create a neutral extension of the hip joints, so many people use the quadriceps to extend the knee and push the foot into the floor. The problem here is that this tends to also create hip flexion, which obstructs the opening at the front of the hip
Chatus Pada Pitham – Four-Footed Tabletop Pose Read More »
The challenge of this pose is not one of flexibility, but instead of how to maintain the neutral alignment of the spine and legs and the simple position of the arms against the action of gravity. The asymmetrical relationship to gravity means that muscles have to work asymmetrically to create a symmetrical alignment of the
Vasisthasana – Side Plank Pose (Sage Vasistha’s Pose) Read More »
Overall the correct leg action is critical to getting into the upward bow. Most people instinctively use their quadriceps in a push action, which thrusts weight toward the head and arms, making it very difficult to raise the upper body off the floor. Initiating the lift of the pelvis with more of a “pulling” action
Urdhva Dhanurasana – Upward Bow Pose, Wheel Pose Read More »
Even though pincha mayurasana is considered preparation for vrschikasana, scorpion is actually an easier pose to maintain because o its lower center of gravity. To deepen from pincha mayurasana into scorpion, the scapulae need to slide together on the back, which lowers the rib cage toward the floor and creates more mobility in the thoracic
Vrschikasana – Scorpion Pose Read More »
For some, the ideal placement of the weight on the skull is on the bregma—the junction between the coronal and sagittal structures, where the frontal bone meets the two parietal bones. This leads to a slightly more arched final position. Placing the weight more towards the crown of the head leads to a more neutral
Salamba Sirsasana – Supported Headstand Read More »
Often in this pose, there is too much lumbar extension and not enough hi extension. The hamstrings should be the main extensors here, but if they are weak, the gluteus maximus can kick in. A problem with this, however, is that it brings in external rotation, which is harder on the lower back. The gluteus
Purvottanasana – Upward Plank Pose Read More »
If the rotator cuff is active, the glenohumeral joint is stabilized, and the scapulae are more free to mobilize on the rib cage (with the serratus anterior), there will also be more freedom in the thoracic spine to extend and in the rib cage to breathe. Mobility in the thoracic spine is important; much like
Pincha Mayurasana – Feathered Peacock Pose Read More »