Yoga Tips » Legs http://yoga-tips.teauta.com News, tips, and advice on yoga Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:00:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Headstand Crunches Are the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/headstand-crunches-are-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/headstand-crunches-are-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:00:28 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/headstand-crunches-are-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/

If you’re pretty comfortable doing headstand in the middle of the room, you can try these crunches, which figure in the Ashtanga Primary Series. Once you are up in headstand, slowly lower your legs to a 90 degree position. Then slowly bring them back up to straight, moving both legs together the whole time. Do this three times. These crunches will really strengthen your abs, preparing you to lift both your legs from the floor at the same time when first coming into headstand (as well as do anything else you need killer abs for!).

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/headstand-crunches-are-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Legs Up the Wall – Viparita Karani Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/legs-up-the-wall-viparita-karani-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/legs-up-the-wall-viparita-karani-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:20:02 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/legs-up-the-wall-viparita-karani-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/

Legs up the wall is a great restorative yoga pose that makes the benefits of an inversion possible for those who can’t fully invert. (Hint: It’s a good one if you want to avoid inverting while menstruating.) It’s also a great rejuvenator for anyone that spends a lot of time on their feet at work.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/legs-up-the-wall-viparita-karani-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Head to Knee Pose – Janu Sirsasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/head-to-knee-pose-janu-sirsasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/head-to-knee-pose-janu-sirsasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:00:21 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/head-to-knee-pose-janu-sirsasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/
When the weather is hot, it’s nice to include some cooling, restorative poses in your practice. To this end, I offer you a supported version of janu sirsasana. You will need a bolster, firm pillow (couch cushions will work), or a number of folded blankets. Set your legs up for the pose and then place your bolster longways over your extended leg. When you forward fold, drape your torso completely over the bolster. Turn your head to one side, resting your cheek on the bolster and let your arms relax to the floor. Stay for several minutes on each side for full effect.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/head-to-knee-pose-janu-sirsasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Hips and Hamstrings http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/02/hips-and-hamstrings/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/02/hips-and-hamstrings/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:20:03 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/02/hips-and-hamstrings/ You’ve heard the saying “necessity is the mother of invention,” right? Since I’m trying to rest a sore shoulder, I’ve turned my daily stretch routine into a hip-opening, hamstring-stretching workshop. Try out this sequence when you want to work on your legs for awhile.

Hips and Hamstrings originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 11:46:14.

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]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/02/hips-and-hamstrings/feed/ 0 Boat Pose – Navasana is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/01/boat-pose-navasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/01/boat-pose-navasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:00:06 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/01/boat-pose-navasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ In honor of the new year, my teacher broke out some ab-tastic boat crunches. To do these, you come into boat pose and then release out of the pose to hover both your torso and legs a few inches above the floor. Then you come back up into boat. Rinse and repeat until you feel the burn. Me, I’m still feeling the burn three days later.

Boat Pose – Navasana is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 22:26:20.

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]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/01/boat-pose-navasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Yoga Poses – Cobra Pose – Bhujangasana http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-cobra-pose-%e2%80%93-bhujangasana/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-cobra-pose-%e2%80%93-bhujangasana/#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:30:18 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-cobra-pose-%e2%80%93-bhujangasana/ The Cobra Pose (bhujangasana in Sanskrit) is a great and easy way to stretch the back. It can be astonishingly energizing!

(Warning: DO NOT perform the Cobra pose if you are pregnant, suffer from hernias, or have injured your back. Stay safe!)

Do this in easy stages:

1. Lie facedown on the ground, legs tightly together and stretched back unbent. Your forehead should be on the ground. Put your hands on the ground, palms down, and place them just under your shoulders.

2. Breathe in and raise your head, pressing your neck backwards. Now use your hands to push the trunk of your body up until you’re bending in a beautiful arc from your lower spine to the back of your neck.

You need go no further than this. However, if you’re supple enough, you can now straighten your arms completely, bend the legs at the knees and drop your head back to touch your feet.

3. Even if your head goes nowhere near your feet, drop it back as much as possible and hold the posture with deep breathing.

4. Come out of the posture very slowly, returning to the face prone posture. Relax with your head turned to one side and resting on the ground. Repeat.

(Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions before following any of the asanas/poses from this article and this site. To avoid any problems while doing the asanas, it is advised that you consult both a doctor and a yoga instructor. The responsibility for performing the asanas correctly and protecting their health lies solely with the reader, and not with this site or this site’s writer!)

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Signature of Francesca De Souza
Francesca De Souza
Yoga-Tips.Teauta.com]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-cobra-pose-%e2%80%93-bhujangasana/feed/ 0 Yoga Poses – Bow Pose – Dhanurasana http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-bow-pose-%e2%80%93-dhanurasana/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-bow-pose-%e2%80%93-dhanurasana/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:12:51 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-bow-pose-%e2%80%93-dhanurasana/ The Bow Pose (dhanurasana in Sanskrit) is a version of the simple bow. It’s surprising how many children can do it immediately!

Do this in easy stages:

1. Lie face down and prone on your mat. (If you are skinny or slender, use a thick, padded mat for this pose.)

2. Breathe in and bend your knees up.

3. Breathe out and stretch back with your arms. Grab and hold your ankles, keeping all your fingers and thumbs together on the outside of the joint.

4. Breathe in and at the same time, raise your head and chest, pulling at your ankles and lifting your knees and thighs off the ground.

5. Breathe normally and evenly, trying to kick up your legs higher and lifting your head up. You’re now bent like a bow, balancing the weight of your body on your abdomen.

You can stop right here but if you can still stretch further, then slide your hands down your legs, lift them higher, keep the knees together and pull back as much as you can.

6. Hold for a few normal deep breaths, then move slowly back to the facedown position. Relax, turning your head to one side and resting it on the ground. Repeat.

(Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions before following any of the asanas/poses from this article and this site. To avoid any problems while doing the asanas, it is advised that you consult both a doctor and a yoga instructor. The responsibility for performing the asanas correctly and protecting their health lies solely with the reader, and not with this site or this site’s writer!)

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Signature of Francesca De Souza
Francesca De Souza
Yoga-Tips.Teauta.com]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/yoga-poses-%e2%80%93-bow-pose-%e2%80%93-dhanurasana/feed/ 0 Knee to Ankle – Agnistambhasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/knee-to-ankle-agnistambhasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/knee-to-ankle-agnistambhasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:52:42 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2009/12/knee-to-ankle-agnistambhasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/

I’m going with a yule themed pose on this Christmas week: knee to ankle is also called firelog pose because the legs should look like neatly stacked logs. I’ve also heard this pose called double pigeon and, on occasion, heard a few curse words thrown out as the hips open and knees settle into place. Happy Holidays!

Knee to Ankle – Agnistambhasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 22:12:44.

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