I got a tip about wheel pose last week that is just too good to keep to myself. My teacher casually mentioned that current thinking suggests we might want to widen the position of our hands, moving them out from the traditional just-under-the-shoulders position, before pushing up. Well, current thinking is right on target; this wider arm position made a world of difference for tight-shouldered me. Thanks, current thinking, keep up the good work!
Lion's breath is a great stress reliever for two reasons:
1. It stretches the muscles in your face to the extreme.
2. It's so ridiculous that you can't help but crack up.
I ...
Wondering how often to do yoga? Aunt Yoga will tell you!
Dear Aunt Yoga,
As a busy, stressed out, working mother of two, I think I am a prime candidate for yoga. The trouble is, I don't think I'll be able to get to a class more than once or twice a week. Is it even worth it? How often do you recommend doing yoga?
Prepare to have your mind blown by what I am about to describe; it's an assistant-less assist. A former teacher of mind used to like to have us do a bit of partner work in poses like extended side angle and triangle where you have one arm raised up perpendicular to the floor. The partner giving the assist faces the person in the pose and the two partners place their palms against one another. The assistant places subtle pressure on the receiver's palm, causing the receiver to return the pressure, which allows the shoulder to open up, turning away from the floor. Now, the great thing is that can do the same thing without the partner. Just imagining the pressure on your upraised palm is enough to turn your shoulder open. Go ahead, try it! Yes, right now!
Guruji is the title of respect used by Ashtanga yoga students to refer to their late teacher, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Guruji follows the introduction of Jois's yoga methodology to the West through interviews with many of Jois's earliest and most devoted students. Read my thoughts on Guruji, written by Guy Donahaye and Eddie Stern.
Ever heard this one: "practice and all is coming"? What about "yoga chitta vritti nirodha"? I've started compiling some oft-used yoga quotes so that you can find the source and meaning of those sayings that come up over and over again. If you have a favorite quotation from a wise or funny yoga teacher or book, I hope you will share it with us too.
In honor of Valentine's Day, a lovely heart opener for you: upward facing dog. If you are accustomed to moving quickly through this pose, take a minute to linger there instead. An expansion of the heart come from keeping the shoulder blades firmly on your back and the shoulders away from the ears. A quick adjustment can be made just by bending your elbows slightly and moving your chest into the space you have just created. And remember, it's not called upward facing throat pose, so there's no need to crank your neck back.
Speaking of chakra truffles (which we just were), what are those chakras anyway? Well, to begin with I can tell you that, despite a misleading spelling, the pronunciation of chakra is more like chocolate and less like Shakira. Want to know more about the seven whirling energy vortexes of your subtle body? I thought so: the chakras.
So that holiday where you give chocolates to your loved ones is right around the corner. Might I suggest you check out Chocoveda? Because nothing says "I love you" like organic, vegan, dark chocolate, chakra-inspired truffles, right?
I've really been enjoying cobra pose of late. I always recommend taking a few of these in your vinyasas at the ...