The sun has been shining brighter as summer approaches. One way to honor the sun through yoga practice is to do sun salutations. This sequence of poses increases strength, mobility, and will power. Doing the series of poses in succession rhythmically with the breath brings heat to one’s practice. To learn more about sun salutations …
Bounded Angle Pose known in Sanskrit as Baddha Koṇāsana. This is a seated pose where the hands catch the feet. Baddha can be translated into english as caught. This pose can be done without holding the feet as well. One can also rest the back against a wall. If sitting up straight is difficult then …
“Fully Supported All Limbs Pose” also known to many as shoulder stand is the Mother of all poses as written in BKS Iyengar’s Light on Yoga (LOY). Learning Shoulder Stand requires effort and “tapas” a burning zeal to gain stability. At first one may only stay for a few moments and gradually students build their …
The five senses of sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch are quieted in down in yoga practice by relaxing their corresponding sense organs. The organs of perception include the eyes, tongue, nose, ears, and skin. The senses tend to be carried away by external objects and draw us into the world of experience. By quieting …
Today is May 3, 2021 and the moon’s phase is in the third quarter. The honor this celestial placement, today’s post is on revolved half moon pose, Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana is the sanskrit name. Parivrtta means revolved, Ardha means half, Chandra is moon, and asana translates to posture. This is a one legged standing pose …
The sacred syllable aum can be chanted at anytime by anyone. It can even be chanted silently. During yoga class the class usually begins with chanting aum . Doing so helps to bring peace and serenity of mind. One can also chant aum while doing a yoga pose either vocally or silently. Chanting aum repeatedly …
Let the blooming spring flowers inspire you to open up in your yoga poses. Let this message act a seed to plant the act of practicing yoga in your mind. One pose named after a flower is Padmasana (sanskrit term) in english means lotus pose. Shown here is a cartoon of Lord Shiva in padmasana with …
The best way to start practice is to just move. Stand up, sit down, or lay flat. Whether you are holding or flowing the poses, the main goal is to do the pose. Yoga is experiential. While it is possible to read texts, watch movies, or listen to pod casts about yoga, at the end …
When you breathe, where does the breath touch you? Where does it move to? Take a moment, inhale and exhale normally. Do this a few times. What part of body moves to accommodate the breath? What sounds do you hear on the inhalation? What about on the exhalation?
When one attends a yoga class the teacher will give instructions on how to come in and out of the poses. The students will receive verbal explanations on what body parts to move and activate in order to do pose with correct muscular skeletal alignment. Being visible to the instructor is important for appropriate feedback …