Benefits:
Improves balance.
Strengthens arms.
Is a great beginner pose for handstands.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start on hands and knees. Bring head to ground and start to bring knees up off ground.
Hands are pressing evenly into ground for support.
Arms are both evenly bent.
The full moon—dogs howl at it; crime rates increase when it’s out; and, according to legend, the Buddha was born, became enlightened, and entered Nirvana all on days it governed. Observers of the sky have used the moon’s shapeshifting quality for centuries to chart the months and plant and harvest their crops, and cultures across the globe grant particular significance to the new and full moons.
Benefits:
Helps strengthen Arms.
Improves balance.
Helps prepare from more advanced arm balances.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start sitting on knees. Put hands on ground in front of body fingers pointing towards knees. Bend at elbows and rest upper body on top of upper arms.
Body is in a straight line
Benefits:
Stretches legs and pelvis.
Opens chest.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start sitting with legs in a “butterfly” position.
Feet are pressing together in front of body.
Feet are as close to pelvis as aloud.
Legs and knees are relaxed.
Belly is engaged to help keep body straight.
Benefits:
Stretches spine and shoulders\
Opens heart
Can also open hips
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start in childs pose. Extend arms out in front of body.
Arms are both engaged and lifted off of ground.
Shoulders are back and away from ears
Back has an even curve in it.
Hips are pressing back.
Recently, the New York Times published an article denouncing yoga pants. Titled “Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women,” the article detailed all the ways in which the popular, though pricey, black tights contribute to the idea that fitness is an everyday-all-the-day activity.
Benefits:
Is a gentle backbend.
Can help open chest.
Strengthens arms.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Can start lying down or in a plank position. Bring your knees, chest, and chin to the ground.
Rest of body (besides hands and feet) is not touching ground.
Feet are flexed and the balls of your feet are your base.
Benefits:
Lengthens spine.
Increase spine flexibility.
Helps promote blood flow to the brain.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start lying on back, bring both legs up and over head with knees bent. Head will be between knees. Hands will come up between legs and wrap up around back.
Feet are pointed.
Most of us tend to think that the healthiest people amongst us are those who dutifully go to the gym six days a week, work up a sweat on the bike or the treadmill, lift weights to preserve bone mass, stretch out in a yoga class, and then go home after the hour is up. While the gym-goers are probably healthier than the majority of the U.S. population, even they aren’t ideal. Why not?
Most of us do not associate yoga with weight loss. That’s where we err. While yoga may not be a sweat-inducing, muscle-punishing workout, it does aid in weight loss. Here’s how you can use yoga to target belly fat…