Adho Mukha Svanasana – Yoga Cielo Stellato

Fail Better, Yoga Style

[Failure] illuminates the limits of the body and mind, not so we can overcome them through sheer force, but so we can love them more. How else can we become whole (healed) without completely embracing our mistakes and our failures? This quote is from Jivana Heyman, founder of Accessible Yoga and author of two booksContinue reading “Fail Better, Yoga Style”

A Yoga Practice for Anahata Chakra

Our heart chakra, named Anahata in Sanskrit and located eponymously, helps us to deal with relational issues. Especially during crises, we can benefit from a heart chakra practice to connect ourselves to others, to nature, to the entire world, or to ourselves. How? By warming up before practicing backbends, also known as heart openers. ManyContinue reading “A Yoga Practice for Anahata Chakra”

Balasana and Its Adaptations

Certain asanas seem so simple that we don’t give them much thought. Balasana, or Child’s Pose, certainly falls into that category. It’s often used primarily as a go-to resting and escape posture. Getting tired? Take Child’s Pose. Can’t do a particular asana during class? Rest in Child’s Pose until the class moves on. How toContinue reading “Balasana and Its Adaptations”

Making Down Dog Accessible

Adho Mukha Svanasana, or Down Dog, strengthens and stretches multiple muscle groups in the arms, legs, core, and back. It’s the basis of most vinyasa classes, where some iteration of Surya Namaskar. or Sun Salutation, connects different asanas. Downward Dog is a simple inversion, bringing all the benefits of placing one’s head lower than theContinue reading “Making Down Dog Accessible”

A Yoga Practice for Manipura Chakra

Located at the center of the body, behind the navel, manipura chakra is the energy center that represents what Western civilization thinks of as personhood. Here, vitality impacts willpower, personality, and the ego. Who are we, and how do we share ourselves with the world? When manipura is balanced, we experience clarity of thought, physicalContinue reading “A Yoga Practice for Manipura Chakra”