body

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 88

Side-Reclining Leg Lift

Benefits:

Strengthens core muscles.

Stretches inner legs.

Improves balance.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start laying on side of body.

Slowly raise leg that is on top.

Can grab outside of foot or big toes and straighten foot.

Legs are engaged.

Both legs are straight.

Core is toned to keep body from falling forward or backward.

Shoulders are back and away from ears, chest is pressing forward.

Healing Journeys: Tui Na

The Modality

This article looks at my first experience with Tui Na with Joseph Carter. Tui Na is a type of bodywork that follows the principles and theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Literally translating as “push and grasp,” Tui Na is sometimes referred to as Chinese Meridian Massage.

The Session

I went into this session without expectations—I knew nothing about Tui Na before this experience. Joseph immediately made me comfortable; his easy smile and kind eyes put me at ease and his propensity for puns had me laughing in no time.

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 87

 

Corpse Pose/ Shavasana

Benefits:

Helps reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia.

Can help with meditation.

Helps relax body after yoga practice.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Foundation is entire back of body.

Feet can be pointing upward or relaxed.

Backs of legs are pressing into ground.

Back is not completely flat on ground, there is a natural curve in back.

Shoulders are back and pressing into ground.

Chest is not caved inward.

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 86

 

Half Moon Pose/ Ardha Chandrasana

Benefits:

Strengthens arms, legs, and core.

Improves balance.

Stretches arms, legs, chest, and back. 

Foundation & General Alignment:

Arm and leg are foundation of pose, hand can be flat on ground or up on finger tips.

Leg that is straight out is toned and in line with body.

Upper body is as straight as possible.

Other arm is extended upward.

Body is flat, black is not curved and legs are bent.

Punarnava: The Powerful Renewer

Before harvesting or using punarnava, please make sure to carefully read the disclaimers below.

Punarnava, the Sanskrit word for the medicinal plant commonly known in English as spreading hogweed, literally translated means “renewer” or “rejuvenator.” Punar- means “again,” and -nava translates to “new.” Punarnava is steadily gaining attention in the expansive world of natural health medicine as a powerful medicinal herb with a wonderful laundry list of health-promoting benefits supporting longevity and youthfulness.

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 85

 

Tripod Headstand

Benefits:

Strengthens arms and legs.

Calms the brain and helps relive stress.

Tones abdominal organs.

Can also improve digestion.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start on hands and knees, place head on ground, put hands on ground, arms are bent at an 90 degree angle. Come up off knees and walk feet towards arms, rest knees on elbows. 

Hands are pressing into the ground.

Back is as straight as possible.

Shoulders are away from ears.

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 84

 

Legs Up The Wall/ Viparita Karani  

Benefits:

Can help with back alignment.

Can release pain in feet and legs.

Gently stretches entire body.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start laying on back with legs up against wall.

Legs are straight.

Bones in butt are pushed against wall for added support.

There is a natural curve in back, it does not have to be pressed flat on ground.

Shoulders are back and pressing into ground.

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 83

 

Gate Pose/Parighasana

Benefits:

Stretches spine and sides of body.

Opens shoulders.

Stretches legs.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start sitting up on knees. Pull one leg out, point foot outward and place hand on same side and lean into the leg. Other arm comes up over head and gently leans with the rest of the body. 

Back is not curved and or arched.

Shoulders are back and away from ears.

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 82

Happy Baby Pose

Benefits:

Is a gently stretch for legs and back.

Can help relieve stress.

Massages back.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start lying on back. Bend legs upward and bring them towards chest.

Back is flat on ground.

Arms are on top of knees.

Hands are grabbing bottoms of feet.

Shoulders are back and away from ears.

Common Problems:

Back is curved.

Shoulders are curved forward.

Modifications:

#Wellness Wednesday - Yoga For Life: Week 81

 

Fire Log Pose/Agnistambhasana

Benefits:

Stretches the hips and legs.

Helps improve posture.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start sitting in upright position. Legs are bent at knees and foot is resting on top of knee.

Feet are flexed.

Keep legs engaged to prevent damage to knees.

Hips are in a natural position.

Back is straight.

Chest is open.

Shoulders are back and away from ears.