Practice – Mindfulness

One of the main benefits of yoga is helping those of us (myself included) who have trouble being in the present moment. Watching the breath, working through challenging balance poses and meditation all add up to a more mindful life.

Here’s a practice to help you be more in the moment:
Seated with Ujjayi Breath (practice Ujjayi through each yoga pose to create a focal point)
Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Down Dog)
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Parvrrita Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)
Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)
Garudasana (Eagle Pose)
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Big Toe Hold Balance Pose)
Nataranjasana (Dancer Pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Down Dog)
Balasana (Child Pose)
Savasana

“Peace is not achieved by controlling nations, but mastering our thoughts.” ~ John Harricharan

Practice – Yoga For Meditation

Yoga brings comfort and stability in the body.  When the body is relaxed, meditation can be accomplished with less effort.

Yoga Sutra 2:46 – STHIRA SUKHAM ASANAM. Asana is a steady, comfortable posture.

The following yoga sequence can bring comfort for meditation practice.

Baddha Konasana (Seated Bound Angle)

Cat and Dog

Lunge

Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Pigeon (Eka Pada Kapotanasana)

Seated Triangle (Upavista Konasana)

Lotus (Padmasana)

If you have knee or hip issues, please refrain from attempting Lotus.

Practice – Long Strong Legs

Strong Standing poses help to build strength and lengthen the muscles.

Seated Meditation with Belly Breathing

Dandasana

Reclined Hero (Supta Virasana)

Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Triangle (Utthita Trikonasana)

Tree (Vrksasana)

Standing Big Toe  Hold (Utthita Hasta Padanghustasana)

Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana)

Wide Leg Forward Fold (Prasarita Paddotanasana)

Intense Side Stretch (Parsvottanasana)

Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Head To Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana)

Staff Pose (Dandasana)

Savasana

“Strength does not come from physical capacity.  It comes from an indomitable will.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi

Practice – Core Work

Having a strong core can help with back issues as well as posture.  Include a few core poses in your daily practice – or just tackle those pesky abs with a core focused practice!

Seated

Easy Twist

Baddha Konasana

Navasana (Boat Pose)

Ardha Navasana (Half Boat Pose)

Bharadvajasana’s Pose (Seated Twist)

Lying Leg Lifts w/ bent legs

Lying Leg Lifts w/straight legs

Lying Leg Lifts w/ straight legs – but lower in thirds

Lying Twist

Savasana

Quote by Jim Rohn: “The more you care, the stronger you can be.”

Practice – Yoga For Anxiety

If you are feeling anxious, yoga can be a great remedy.  Calming poses, such as forward folds and inversions can help bring a new sense of clarity and serenity.

Start with Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Baddha Konasana)

Downward Facing Dog with bolster under head

Uttanasana w/Hands on Brick (Standing Forward Fold)

Prasarita Padotonasana (Standing Wide Leg Forward Fold)

Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch)

Janu Sirsansana (Head To Knee Pose)

Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold)

Viparita Karani (Legs up the wall)

Savasana

Quote by Erich Fromm: “The experience of separateness arouses anxiety; it is, indeed, the source of all anxiety.”

Practice – Yoga For Grieving

When my mother passed away three years ago, I found solace in my yoga practice. The yoga mat can be a place for healing and retreat when life hands us a loss.  Here is a simple routine of what I did during that time.

Seated Meditation with Alternate Nostril Breath

Passive Backbend with a bolster

Gomukhasana

Downward Facing Dog with a bolster under the crown of head

Uttansana

Viparita Dandasana over a chair

Supported Shoulderstand on a chair

Legs up the wall with a bolster under hips

Savasana

Quote by Toni Morrison:  “Birth, life, and death — each took place on the hidden side of a leaf.”

Practice – Yoga For Menopause

Yoga can be a great companion during your change of life. It is especially helpful for hot flashes.  The following practice is cooling and helps to deal with mid life stress.

Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Baddha Konasana)

Downward Facing Dog with Head Support

Uttanasana

Half Dog at the wall

Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Pose)

Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold)

Niralamba Sarvangasana (Unsupported Shoulderstand)

Savasana

Quote by Adrienne Rich: “The moment of change is the only poem.”

Practice – Strengthen Hip Area

When the hips are strong, we are able to move forward in life with grace.  Yoga can strengthen and tone the hips.  Here is a practice that can help;

Seated meditation

Gentle Twist (Sukhasana Twist)

Bhardvaja’s Pose (Twist)

Reclined Leg Stretches (Supta Padangusathasana)

Standing Leg Stretches (Utthita Padangusthasana)

Tadasana

Triangle (Trikonasana)

Extended Side Angle (Parsvokonasana)

Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana)

Half Dog on a Chair

Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana 2)

Pyramid (Parsvottanasana)

Child Pose (Balasana)

Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana)

Savasana

Quote by Jim Rohn:

“The more you care, the stronger you can be.”

Practice – Restorative Backbends

Restorative backbends are not only relaxing but gently rejuvenating.  Do this practice when you are burnt out  or mentally fatigued.

Passive lying backbend (lying over a bolster)

Cat and Dog

Supported Bridge (with block under pelvis)

Viparita Dandasana (backbend with chair)

Viparita Karani (Legs Up Wall with bolster under hips)

Savasana

Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Practice – Spine Work

If you have back issues or a weak spine, yoga can help! In fact, many physical therapists recommend yoga for bad backs. Here is a GENTLE practice if you need to build strength in your back.

Lying meditation with Belly Breathing
Supported Bridge – Setu Bandha Saravangasana (rest in this for about 2 minutes)
Bridge
Seated – Cross Legged Forward Fold
Cat and Dog
Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Plank
Cobra (Bhunjangansana)
Sphinx (variation of Bhujangasana)
Locust (Shalambasana) – repeat 3 times
Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Child Pose (Balasana)
Boat (Navasana) – 3 Times
Legs Up The Wall
Savasana

Quote by Audre Lourde: “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”

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