[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”
Tag Archives: balasana
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”
Cobra, Sphinx, and Seal Poses
These asana will help to open your chest and throat and access Vishuddhi chakra or several meridian lines in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Cobra is an essential part of Sun Salutations, while Sphinx and Seal are integral Yin poses. Certain asanas, while not ‘sexy’ or exciting, are basic to the practice of yoga. Bhujangasana, or CobraContinue reading “Cobra, Sphinx, and Seal Poses”
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”
Agnistambhasana with Garudasa arms
Sitting at a desk crouched over a computer all day may be great for your business’ bottom line, but it can wreak havoc on your back and hips. Piriformis syndrome, a condition caused when tightened muscles irritate the sciatic nerve, can result in pain alongside the side of the hip or thigh; headaches can manifestContinue reading “Agnistambhasana with Garudasa arms”
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”
My Knee Wants Its Say (a personal interlude)
I’ve been sidelined this week by the voice of my unrepentant right knee, which currently insists that it doesn’t want to bend. This knee has been troublesome every since that time I almost died in Patagonia (a phrase I love to throw around that exaggerates a hiking mishap outside of Ushuaia, Argentina), but lately it’sContinue reading “My Knee Wants Its Say (a personal interlude)”
A Simple At-Home Practice for Renewal
There are times when we feel depleted and low in energy. Taking care of ourselves during these fallow periods is one of the most important ways we preserve our health, and yoga is one of our best resources. If you are stressed out or have noticed your practice becoming irregular, might it be time forContinue reading “A Simple At-Home Practice for Renewal”
Yoga Cielo Stellato 