What is Yin Yoga, and Why Do It? Yin yoga is a slower, more visibly passive form of yoga, yet it leads to very deep opening. The focus is upon gradually stretching to release even connective tissue around the joints, particularly the knees, pelvis, sacrum, and spine. Because this approach requires us to slow… Continue reading What is Yin Yoga, and Why Do It?
Want to energize? Try this powerful breath. Imagine you could go inside your head and brush and floss all the old sensations, feelings, and thoughts that plague you. In fact, there is a yoga practice whose name implies just that. It is a delightfully refreshing and energizing practice when we need a boost of energy. … Continue reading A Shining Breath: Energize, Cleanse, Nourish, Shift, Reset
This posture is a little known sleeping beauty waiting to be discovered, as it is one of the only yoga poses that has you lie down on your side. It is also a subtle balance asana (posture), sometimes easier for those who find standing or arm balance poses frustrating or painful. ANANTASANA: Pronounced: /Ahh—Nahn—TAH—sah—nah/ ANANTASANA… Continue reading Recline & Balance Pose: Anantasana
In almost any yoga class, at some point in seated positions, you will be asked to sit up on your Sitz Bones. For most new yoga students, this creates a raised eyebrow: What the heck are those, and why do we need such precise directions just to sit, anyway? Your Sitz Bones (also commonly referred… Continue reading Sitz Bones & the Art of Sitting
According to both the American Heart Association and the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, practicing yoga benefits your heart. Remarkably, traditional yoga asana (like those of Kripalu and Iyengar styles of yoga) includes slow or moderate movements, so they are not part of the vigorous 150 minutes of aerobic exercise recommended by the American Heart Association. How,… Continue reading Yoga & Happy Heart Health
“Eeek! I am new to yoga. What can I expect at my first class or private session?” We do gentle yoga, which focuses on stretching, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques. Most of the class time is spent stretching; these are the specific yoga postures (or “asanas,” pronounced “AHH—sah—nahs”) that most people imagine when they hear… Continue reading New to Yoga? No worries!
Shoulders are strong yet vulnerable parts of our bodies. Pain at the outer top tip of the shoulders is prevalent and often happens through minor injuries or overuse from everyday movements, such as bracing a fall or moving things on high shelves. Incorrect alignment in yoga poses can also aggravate such problems. Though shoulder anatomy is built… Continue reading Yoga for Shoulder Pain Relief
In AHA! Yoga sessions, we often use yoga straps. No, it is not a strange torture device, nor is it meant to stick you in difficult yoga poses. A yoga strap can help you get all the benefits from specific postures, while maintaining comfort and ease. It allows you to practice proper alignment without strain, making… Continue reading Why Use a Yoga Strap?
A safe, beneficial yoga practice must take great care of your precious knees. Misalignment of the knee often happens over time, and through hyperextension or overexertion. Our bodies are prone to this misalignment because our hip joints are wider than our knee joints. As we age, this natural shape creates uneven contraction of the quadriceps,… Continue reading Your Knees are Precious
The most important safety technique during yoga practice is simpler–and harder–than you may imagine: Self-awareness. What are you feeling today, and where do you feel it? What parts of your body need attention, and do those parts need more work or more rest? Learning to be aware of bodily sensations and then to actually follow those cues… Continue reading Creating a Safe Yoga Practice
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