yoga

After, oh, roughly the age of 21, birthdays get a little less exciting for a lot of people.  Instead of counting down to your birthday, you might find it sneaking up on you, leaving you no time to plan any kind of celebration.  Or maybe as an adult, you’re stuck working on your birthday and don’t feel up to making a whole day of it—or even an evening.  In this global age, perhaps you’re living far away from most of your loved ones or a recent transplant to a new city without a large local social network.  Some of us are watching our wallets and want to celebrate our big

Wellness Wednesday Week 131: One Legged Plank on Knee

Benefits:

Strengthens arms, legs, and core.

Prepares body for full plank.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start on hands and knees. Lift one arm and opposite leg.

Lifted leg and arm are both straight.

Grounded leg is pressing into ground.

Top of foot is flat on ground for balance.

Lifted foot is pointed..

Wellness Wednesday Week 130: Fly Pigeon Pose

Benefits:

Strengthens arms and legs.

Improves balance.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Arms are at a 90 degree angle. Entire weight is on arms.

One leg is bent inward, foot and knee is resting on elbows.

Entire upper body is leaning forward, raising leg that is behind body.

Back leg is straight with foot flexed.

As humans, we need movement: exercise keeps our cardiovascular system healthy, keeps our bones strong, improves our blood circulation, and can even lower our risk for certain diseases.

Wellness Wednesday Week 129: Half Lotus Pose

Benefits:

Opens hips.

Helps prepare of full lotus.

Can also help with posture.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Sitting with sitting bones pressing into the ground.

Tailbone is slightly tucked.

Legs are crossed with one leg up and over other, foot is resting on thigh.

Both feet are flexed.

Back is straight.

Wellness Wednesday Week 128: Supine Hero Pose

Benefits:

Stretches tops of thighs.

Opens chest.

Helps deepen backbend.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start by sitting up on legs. Feet are tucked underneath body.

Pull feet out from underneath body, feet are directly next to thighs. Legs are making a “W” shape.

Knees are both pointing forward.

Feet are pointing straight back.

Wellness Wednesday Week 127: Revolved Downward Facing Dog

Benefits:

Stretches legs.

Opens shoulders.

Deepens spinal twist.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start in downward facing dog pose. Bring one hand to opposite ankle.

Hand is placed firmly on ground for balance.

Arms are straight.

Wellness Wednesday Week 126: Crescent Lunge Forward Bend on Knee

Benefits:

Stretches legs.

Stretches shoulders.

Opens hips.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Start in lunge position. Lean upper body forward.

Chest and belly are resting on bent leg.

Back is straight.

Arms are lifted above head and in straight line with back.

Shoulders are back and away from ears.

Wellness Wednesday Week 125: Slow Neck Stretches

Benefits:

Stretches neck and shoulders.

Releases tension.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Sit in a comfortable sitting position.

Shoulders are back and away from ears.

Back is straight.

Tail bone is slightly tucked.

Hand is gently reaching over head and slightly pulling head towards shoulder.

Do with both sides.