Hangover sufferers may be looking for some relief today, but they're unlikely to find it at hot yoga, which, despite claims of sweating out the toxins, is more likely to leave you even more dehydrated and ill. My recommendation is to drink plenty of fluids (yogi tea, for instance!) and take it easy today with some gentle stretches that don't require you to leave a horizontal position (happy baby, for instance!). Best and happiest new year to you!
If your practice seems to have gone on holiday during the last month, here's a chance to rev things back up again: plan on participating in WoYoPracMo this January. World Yoga Practice Month is less an official event and more about the intention do some type of yoga each day for the whole month. If this seem intimidating, keep in mind that you can just do a few poses or dedicate a short time to sitting in meditation on some days. It's a good way to get back in the groove.
If you've been thinking you could benefit from exploring a meditation practice, you might want to start with yoga nidra. Classes in this deeply relaxing style are becoming more available, but it's also really well-suited to a home practice using one of the many available audio recordings. Read more...
I often decide on the pose of the week by asking myself which pose I'd most like to do right now. Today, that is a supine spinal twist. My last big meal was a few hours ago and I just want to lie down and let gravity work me into this twist. In fact, I think I'll go ahead and do that. Want to join me?
Folks who are at the office today, I feel your pain. We've all been there: the day before a big holiday, the hallways and offices of the higher-ups are suspiciously empty, but someone has to be there to answer the phone and keep up appearances, right? If that fate has fallen to you, it's the perfect chance to get in some office yoga to relax yourself before the holiday. In fact, you might as well just go ahead and do a longer series of standing poses and work on your headstand in the break room. Hopefully you'll be getting the OK to head home early soon. Happy holidays!
This is my go-to sequence for daily stretching. It hits all my major hot spots (spine, hips, and hamstrings) and can be over quickly when you're in a hurry or expanded when you have more time. Read more...
Do you feel like you're looking down the barrel of the most hectic week of your life? If your regular yoga class should fall by the wayside as you deal with last minute shopping, festive meal preparation, and holiday partying (all while your kids are out of school) here's a pose you can do anytime you happen to be seated: cat - cow in a chair. Do it at your computer, while stuck in traffic, at the school concert, in front of the TV, where ever. You'll relieve tension and stress with every stretch.
It's winter, it's cold, the germs are percolating like your morning coffee. The holidays are fast approaching, we have a million things on our to-do lists, umpteen events to attend, no time to get sick. The only thing keeping us remotely in contact with our sanity is our regular ritual of yoga. I don't know if I just described your December, but it's a pretty accurate view of mine. So what to do when we are felled by the common cold? Unfortunately, a yoga time-out is in order. Read more...
December 14th is the birthday of B.K.S. Iyengar, who turns 93 this year. Iyengar is one of the most influential forces on contemporary yoga. After beginning his studies with Krishnamacharya, Iyengar went on to forge his own anatomy-focused style of practice and teaching. We have him to thank for the common use of props like blocks and bolsters in today's yoga studios. If you have only done flow yoga, an Iyengar class can be a real eye-opener. A single pose is worked on over several minutes while the exact alignment is adjusted and tweaked. It's a great tune-up for your postures and continues to be a very popular style of asana practice. Read more...
I love poses like eka hasta bhujasana because they seem completely impossible at first try. But you keep banging away at them, gamely throwing your leg over your shoulder and trying to elevate your butt, all the while thinking, this will never work. Until one day you forget to think that and there you are, fully lifted up and quite astonished. Another point scored for core strength!