While it's lovely to attend yoga classes as often as possible, there are some days where it just isn't going to happen. For those days, I highly recommend doing this short series of yoga stretches at your desk, in particular this seated version of a forward bend. Actually, why don't you just put your computer down on the floor and spend the rest of the day like this? Your co-workers won't notice a thing.
Finding a yoga style that fits is the key to enjoying a long, healthy relationship with your yoga practice. I love reading the responses to the What's Your Favorite Yoga Style? question because people are so excited to share the styles that work best for them. It's also a great way to get a taste of what's popular now.
I remember a time in the not-so-distant past when you could take a yoga class and not even do one down dog split. Well, not any more. Somehow, somewhere, this pose became ubiquitous. With the help of this down dog split video you can easily see the difference between the closed and open hipped version of the pose, something that often causes confusion.
A new study published in the November, 2010 issue of the journal PAIN looks at the effect of yoga in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Patients who did yoga over an eight-week period showed greater improvement in their fibromyalgia symptoms than a control group. This is very encouraging news on several fronts. Since eight weeks is not a very long time in the life of a yoga practice, it offers hope that a more sustained practice could offer even more benefits. It's also great that yoga's benefits are being taken seriously by the medical community and that this study could inspire more research. Finally, the yoga program followed by the study participants included not only basic poses, but a significant amount of meditation, breathing exercises, pain management techniques, and group discussions. This extension of yoga beyond the asanas seems to hold great promise for many people who suffer from painful diseases and has not been studied much in the past.
A recent article in The New York Times examined the nascent trend of practicing yoga without a mat. Actually, I don't think it's much of a trend outside of a few studios in New York City (correct me if it's catching on elsewhere), though I guess this is how trends get started. The suggestion that going matless is more authentic, coupled with a quote warning beginners off trying the bare floor, smacks of snobbery comparable to showing off the latest expensive status mat, though at least you can omit the expense. Hygiene is raised as issue, but that can be taken care of by buying your own mat. Having practiced a little bit on my wood floor while testing out ToeSox, I found it slippery and hard on the bony parts in poses like hands and knees balance and bow, so I think I'll be sticking with my mat for now. And you?
...
You know what feels really good? When you're in shoulderstand, lower one leg into the
plow position keeping the other leg up as straight as possible. It's kind of a half plow. Then switch legs.
Until recently, I only knew about two kinds of yoga mats. Old school mats, which are made of PVC, are relatively cheap and easy to come by. While they function just fine, PVC is not biodegradable and may pose a health risk. The alternative was a natural rubber mat, which seems better for the environment and your health, but are more expensive, heavier, and tend to have a strong rubber odor. Then I discovered the Lotuspad Eco mat, which is non-toxic, non-smelly, and a pleasure to use.
Sign up for my free yoga pose of the day email and you'll get a nice fresh pose delivered to your inbox each and every day. Until the poses run out, at which point you can just sign up again. And again. And again. It's a great way to bring a little yoga into your day.
A few months ago, I tweeked my shoulder coming into a chaturanga dandasana early in class before I was really warmed up. Since then, I've made sure to do knees, chest, and chin for my first handful of vinyasas, even if the teacher calls for chaturanga right off the bat. It's all part of the process of learning to adjust your practice to fit your needs.