Yoga Tips » Yoga Pose http://yoga-tips.teauta.com News, tips, and advice on yoga Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:20:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Half Lotus Tree Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/09/half-lotus-tree-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/09/half-lotus-tree-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:00:04 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/09/half-lotus-tree-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ If your hips and knees allow it, this half lotus tree pose makes for a nice variation. It’s also the first step to getting into flying crow, in case you were wondering just how the heck to approach that one.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/09/half-lotus-tree-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Bird of Paradise Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/bird-of-paradise-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/bird-of-paradise-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:00:05 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/bird-of-paradise-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/
Bird of paradise is one of those poses that seems completely improbable until the day comes, quite unexpectedly, when you find yourself standing there on one leg, all bound and balancing. What I like about this pose is that it can easily be broken down into stages, beginning with bound side angle. As you become comfortable with each step along the way, you are working your way up to the full pose.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/bird-of-paradise-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 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 Half Lord of the Fishes Pose – Ardha Matsyendrasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/half-lord-of-the-fishes-pose-ardha-matsyendrasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/half-lord-of-the-fishes-pose-ardha-matsyendrasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:40:02 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/half-lord-of-the-fishes-pose-ardha-matsyendrasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/

One of the things I love about half lord of the fishes pose (also known as seated spinal twist) is how adaptable the pose is. You can keep your bottom leg extended if you knee bothers you or you can take the bind if you are able to. When it comes to the bind, make sure that you don’t throw off the whole pose by leaning too far forward just to get the bind. It’s more important to keep a nice, upright spine.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/half-lord-of-the-fishes-pose-ardha-matsyendrasana-is-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 Warrior III – Virabhadrasana III Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/warrior-iii-virabhadrasana-iii-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/warrior-iii-virabhadrasana-iii-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:40:03 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/warrior-iii-virabhadrasana-iii-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/

Seems a lot of my teachers have warrior III on the brain- it has popped up in almost every class I’ve taken lately, usually as part of a standing balances sequence. Though I’m generally not a big fan of mirrors in yoga classes, they do come in handy with this pose, as it is very difficult to sense whether your body is parallel to the floor and your hips level. If there isn’t a mirror around, placing your hands on your hips helps with the later problem, which in turn helps with the former problem.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/08/warrior-iii-virabhadrasana-iii-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Chaturanga Dandasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/chaturanga-dandasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/chaturanga-dandasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:40:02 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/chaturanga-dandasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ In honor of the birthday of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, this week’s pose is the one I most associate with Ashtanga yoga: chaturanga dandasana. Of course there are many poses in the Ashtanga primary series, even more in the second series, and so on, but between just about every pose you’re going to hit that chaturanga again. Practice Ashtanga and you will get some very strong arms.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/chaturanga-dandasana-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 Plank Pose Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/plank-pose-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/plank-pose-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:40:03 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/plank-pose-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ Plank pose is often seen as a quick stopping off point between downward facing dog and chaturanga. It’s just a transition, right? Wrong! If you’ve ever tried to hold plank for more than a few breaths, you’ve surely discovered that it’s a great arm strengthener and that it’s really hard to hold your body perfectly straight, meaning your core is working too. So give plank its due- it may not have glamour, but its got plenty of guts.

]]> http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/plank-pose-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Crow Pose – Bakasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/crow-pose-bakasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/crow-pose-bakasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:20:03 +0000 Francesca http://yoga-tips.teauta.com/2010/07/crow-pose-bakasana-is-the-yoga-pose-of-the-week/ Crow pose is usually the first arm balance that yoga students learn. It can also be the start of a yoga home practice. If you’ve set your sights on crow pose, my advice is to try the pose every day at home. Consistency is important here, as is freeing yourself from the potential embarrassment of falling. Warm up with a few sun salutations and then work on your crow. You never know, the habit of doing yoga at home just might stick.

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