May 4, 2010 at 1:06 pm (Asanas, Yoga)
Tags: asana, Asanas, Yoga
Baddha Konasana
Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle or Cobbler’s Pose) is a great stretch for the inner thighs and is also said to help strengthen the pelvic floor. To do this pose all you need to do is sit comfortably (I prefer a blanket underneath), join the soles of the feet together and cradle the feet in your hands. Sit tall and breathe normally. If you’d like, you can also bow forward and bring the head down towards the feet.
April 1, 2010 at 12:38 pm (Asanas, Practices, Yoga)
Tags: Practice, Yoga, yoga practice
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
March 1, 2010 at 2:18 pm (Yoga, Yoga Questions)
Tags: questions about yoga, Yoga Questions
Q: Super Yoga Lady I have a question for you. The DVD workouts have conflicting information the when you are doing a forward bend i.e. legs straight hand to the floor some say keep your legs bent a little and other say pretty much lock your knees. Which one is appropriate or are the both appropriate at different times? Your advice would be much appreciated.
~JP
A: Thanks for the question! Either straight legs or bent are fine – and both are appropriate at different times. For example, my hamstrings are pretty open so most days my legs are straight. However, if I am having a bad back day, I will bend my knees slightly. NEVER lock the knees – this can create hyper extension, which is never a good idea. Keep the thighs engaged instead. We always want to be mindful of the knees and the term “locking” is violent and encourages a hard core approach, which contradicts yoga philosophy to keep the posture steady and COMFORTABLE.
Shanti,
Theresa
February 6, 2010 at 6:35 pm (Asanas, Yoga)
Tags: asana, Asanas
Bhujangasana or Cobra pose is a wonderful, energizing backbend that heals the spine and strengthens the back. Begin lying flat on your stomach. Place hands by the rib cage. With your legs together, engage your buttocks as you press your pubic bone firmly to the earth. As you press the hands to the earth, begin peeling your torso from the earth into a back bend. Stretch your neck and lift your eyes towards the ceiling. Hands can remain on the earth or for a more advanced version, bring your hands to your thighs and lift your torso higher.
If you have back issues, decrease your range of motion.
January 26, 2010 at 1:01 pm (Practices, Yoga)
Tags: Practice, Yoga, yoga practice
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.
January 10, 2010 at 10:29 am (Yoga, Yoga Questions)
Tags: questions about yoga, Yoga Questions
Q: ”What is all this CYT and RYT stuff after yoga instructors names?”
A: CYT stands for Certified Yoga Teacher and RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher. This is a way of telling the public that the teacher has taken the “required” teacher training in order to be a safe instructor. The idea for certification started years ago when some yoga instructors were concerned about untrained people teaching yoga to the public and risking injuring people. While this is a valid idea, it is still no guarantee that your teacher will be safe. Many teacher training programs are hastily put together and some will even pass people through their program like a fast food restaurant. Some programs will even accept people who have NO yoga experience. The reason – yoga teacher training programs are extremely lucrative and a full program equals big bucks.
RYT means that you are registered with the Yoga Alliance. What is the Yoga Alliance? It is a group of yoga teachers who are supposed to monitor other yoga teachers and make sure that ethics are “enforced”. Do they actually do this? In my experience, no. There are plenty of questionable people on the Yoga Alliance roster and my opinion is that they (Yoga Alliance) collect money and do little else. You really can’t enforce anything in yoga nor can you truly organize it. My question to those who want to “police” yoga is this: who is policing the police and what is the criteria to make sure those in charge are also following “ethical guidelines”? Personally, I refuse to be a part of it. But many beginning teachers find the lure of those little initials gives them credibility in the public’s eye (and perhaps confidence about their own abilities).
If you are searching for a yoga teacher, don’t be fooled by the those initials. Ask the teacher about their experiences, how long they’ve been personally practicing yoga, who they’ve studied with, what their philosophy is and how they feel yoga benefits them. Take a class in person and see if you are a good fit. Ultimately, what matters most is how you feel about the teacher, not some fancy (or dubious) credentials.
Shanti,
Theresa
PS Although I refuse to be part of the Yoga Alliance, I do put the CYT (Certified Yoga Teacher) initials after my name (this has nothing to do with the Yoga Alliance) as a way to let those who need to see it know that I have had over 200 hours of training. But my students usually don’t give a rip about that – all they seem to care about is getting their yoga on! :)
January 2, 2010 at 3:54 pm (Asanas, Yoga)
Tags: asana, Asanas, Yoga, yoga practice
Twists are the perfect for detoxing (what better thing to do after a holiday of feasting?). They get the digestion working better and tone the inner organs. Marichi’s Pose (named after the god who was the son of Brahma).
Sit in Dandasana (Staff Pose). Bend right knee and put the foot on the floor. Keep the left leg engaged and straight, gently pressing out through the heel. Inhale, lengthen your spine. As you exhale, twist to the right, wrapping your left hand around your knee and putting the right hand on the earth behind you. You could also bring the elbow of the left arm to the outside of the right knee (pictured above) to deepen your twist. Look to the right.
Unwind. Repeat on the other side.
If you have back issues, especially herniated disks, please be GENTLE. Decrease range of motion as needed.
December 17, 2009 at 9:58 pm (Yoga, Yoga Questions)
Tags: questions about yoga, Yoga, Yoga Questions
I am getting a lot of questions about yoga – and I will post some of the best ones here. Please remember that some of these answers are my opinions. You are welcome to have a a different viewpoint.
Today’s question: “My teacher said I have to do inversions. I have a neck issue and don’t feel safe doing them. She got really mad at me for refusing to do headstand and is insisting that I am being fearful and need to do them.” ~ D.P.
Dear D.P.,
Inversions are very beneficial – in fact, Iyengar considers them the most therapeutic of all yoga poses. That being said, they are NOT mandatory. If you truly have neck issues, you have no business doing inversions unless you get an absolute okay from your doctor or physical therapist. Even then, I like to err on the side of caution as you could aggravate the problem if you are not careful. Why not try alternative inversions such as Downward Facing Dog or Legs Up The Wall? These have the same benefits as headstand but are far more gentle and put no strain on your neck.
On another note, if you do not want to do any pose for whatever reason, your teacher needs to develop more compassion. If I have a student who is afraid of doing headstand but fully capable, I introduce them to other poses until they feel ready to go up. If they never get over the fear, I don’t push as I believe the student will always know what is ultimately best for them and should be the only authority on their body. I encourage my students to feel free to refrain from any pose that does not feel “right” for them. A student deserves as much respect as the teacher. Never let your teacher bully you into something that feels unsafe or uncomfortable to you.
Om Shanti,
Theresa
December 5, 2009 at 12:42 pm (Asanas, Yoga)
Tags: asana, Asanas, pose, Yoga
Anantasana - Sleeping Vishnu
Anantasana is relaxing but don’t be fooled – there is still plenty going on here! Although you may look as if you are relaxing, this pose strongly stretches the legs and opens the hips.
To do the pose: lie on one side. Rest your head in your hand or on the earth. Bend the top leg in towards your body and loop your middle finger and index finger around the big toe. As you exhale, lift the foot up towards the sky. Hold for a few breaths. Release and roll over, repeat on the other side.
If you have trouble reaching your toe, use a strap as an alternative.
November 7, 2009 at 10:44 pm (Asanas, Practices, Yoga)
Tags: Practice, Yoga, yoga practice
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
