Have you found yourself rushing to a yoga class? Or perhaps you have found yourself full-on resisting going to yoga, or putting off practicing at home? Oh yes, I have come up with all the excuses. I don’t have time; I have to do X instead; I’m sore; I practiced yesterday; I just ate; I’m too full; It’s selfish right now; My house is messy; My bike has a flat tire; I can’t find my mat; I have to get gas; I’ll be late; I’m already late…sound familiar?
Benefits:
Can help improve balance.
Will strengthen your arms, legs, knees and ankles.
Can increase circulation to all joints.
Improves focus.
Foundation & General Alignment:
One foot standing bearing all the weight.
Opposite leg is crossed over second leg, and if able, foot is hooked around back of calf.
Bent at knees like in Chair pose.
Tummy is toned.
Benefits:
Can help relieve stress and mild depression.
Helps reduce fluid retention in your legs and feet.
Can also help relieve symptoms of menopause.
Tones legs and butt.
Foundation & General Alignment:
The base consists of the back of your upper arms, shoulders, and the back of your head.
Your elbows should be shoulders' distance apart.
Press base firmly into ground.
Chances are, if you played sports throughout high school, college, or even post-college, you finished your practice, grabbed a Gatorade and went home to stretch, thinking that you mastered the art of recovery. If you felt particularly sore the next day, perhaps you grabbed an Advil to ease the pain, and then pushed through the following day’s scheduled workout, ignoring your body’s signs.
Sound familiar?
Benefits:
Helps teach balance.
Strengthens legs.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Foot on floor, evenly standing on all points of foot.
Knee pulled into chest if balance isn’t strong.
First two fingers looped around big toe.
Extend leg out first and then pull leg to the side for better balance.
Other arm out in “T” position for easier balance
Shoulders are back, away from ears.
Benefits:
Strengthens abdominal muscles.
Tones digestive organs.
Releases tension in the back and shoulder muscles.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Head, shoulder blades, back, and pelvis are on the floor.
Start with legs vertical and together, can be bent for beginners.
Arms are extended in a “t" like position.
The naval is twisting away from the direction that the legs are going.
Benefits:
Massages the internal organs.
Good post for teaching the fundamentals of twists.
Stretches the muscles of the back and front torso.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Sitting bones, thighs and outer feet form the base.
Outsides of the feet press into the floor.
Pelvis is square to the front of the mat.
Belly is toned.
Benefits:
Great twist for the spine that is easy and in which you can teach the principles of twists safely.
Stretches the hamstrings.
Good opening for the shoulder girdle.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Feet are a wide distance apart and parallel to one another.
Feet are active, arches are lifting. Leg muscles are engaged, straight if available if not keep bent.
Sacrum is parallel to the earth.
Benefits:
Great pose if you have a stiff back or sciatica.
Chest is expanded, enhances breathing.
Helps strengthen the back of the body, legs, back, arms, and shoulders.
Foundation and General Alignment:
Hands are shoulders distance apart, elbows are over the wrists, forearms perpendicular to the floor.
Feet are hips distance apart. Toes are flat on the floor pointed away.
Mind-body exercises intended to harmonize the body have been trending in our culture for years now. Yoga poses elegantly shared on our Instagram and Facebook and other social media sites picture long-limbed profiles of our friends mid-stretch with hands and toes reached out to emphasize the beautiful lines and symmetry of their practiced bodies. The pictures we share may seem vain at times; however, the positive value of these poses reflects a conscious effort toward balanced symmetry, flexibility and total alignment of the body as part of a lifestyle toward holistic health.