Wednesday Yoga (6/27) ~ Seeing Double

This week was tough for me to come up with something new and interesting, so instead of that, I'll just fall back on a prior class but add an interesting twist to it.

We will be doing double vinyasa flows throughout our practice, so be "doubly" prepared! In addition to that, we'll bring attention to chaturangas once again and chest openers to counterpose chaturangas. There have been some questions about the proper way to do chaturangas, and I have also noticed people pushing themselves through incorrect alignments, so this class will be a refresher of the chaturangas class we have done a few weeks back.

In addition, I may include a 15-minute abs session after class for those interested. If you have any questions or concerns prior to class, please e-mail me.

Looking forward to see you all then!

For my reflection on tonight's class, click on the header link above. I invite you to leave me a comment as well. I would be interested to hear what your thoughts are on tonight's class...

Wednesday (6/20) ~ Standing On Your Own Two Hands

Bakasana, also known as Crow Pose, looks like a deceivingly intimidating pose, but in reality, when we let go of our fears and inhibitions of falling forward, this pose leaves us with quite a great feeling of empowerment.

In Yoga Journal's article about Bakasana, it states that:

"One reason arm balances are so challenging is they require both strength and flexibility. You may be very strong but still not be able to do arm balances if you don't have the necessary flexibility. And yet excellent flexibility is no guarantee of success if you don't have the needed upper body and torso strength."

Of course, Bakasana will be much more difficult to do without the proper preparatory poses, so during this class, much of the poses will bring attention to upper body strength and core strength. As always, the class will be in the vinyasa style with the usual warm-ups and wave sequences with minor variations that tie in with our peak pose of Bakasana. Of course, there will be a variety of modifications of Bakasana, so don't be discouraged if you feel you are not ready for it yet. And for those who feel they have mastered Bakasana, we may add an additional modification to keep those of you challenged.

If you cannot wait until tomorrow and are interested in reading up on Bakasana prior to class, you can click on the links on this post. There, you will find detailed instructions and tips on getting into Bakasana yourself. I would suggest warming up by doing several Sun Salutations before performing Bakasana on your own.

Lastly, bring your energy, let go of any fears or inhibitions, and most of all, have fun!
See you then!

To see my reflection on tonight's practice, click on the heading link above. Also, I invite you to leave me your thoughts on tonight's class.

Wednesday (6/13) ~ Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance)

Pincha Mayurasana also known as the forearm balance will be this week's peak pose. Don't be discouraged if you feel you are not ready for this pose yet as there will be a variety of modifications.

As Cyndi Lee, a renown yoga instructor from NYC, states about balancing poses:

"Inversions like Pincha Mayurasana present wonderful opportunities for profound physical and mental transformation, but they're also rife with obstacles. Begin by simply noticing the obstacles that keep you from going upside down easily. When you acknowledge these blocks, you have something to work with, and a pathway to new possibilities reveals itself. You can nudge things along by cultivating meditative awareness and breaking inversions down into smaller, easier steps. This makes the goal of "perfection" less important; instead you can work creatively and enjoy the journey, no matter how long it takes."

This class will have the same format with warm-ups, wave sequences, and preparatory poses for Pincha Mayurasana. I have included a link here that describes the pose as well as a step-by-step instructions to doing the pose if you were interested in getting a headstart.
Click here for instructions for Pincha Mayurasana.

I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday, and come with ideas about notifications for Sunday AM outdoor classes as this weekend was a bummer!
Cheers!

To see my comments for this class, click on the link heading above. Also, if you have any questions or comments about this class, I invite you to leave a note!

Wednesday Yoga (6/6) ~ Back-to-Back Backbends

This class will primarily be focused on backbends, which can also be considered chest and shoulder openers. The Yoga Journal describes backbending poses as so:

"These are poses that open the heart chakra, build courage and stamina, and give us the sort of energy that propels us to reach out toward others."

For those who are uncomfortable or not ready for backbends, take comfort that the class is not literally "back-to-back backbends", but rather sprinkled throughout the class. The format is generally the same with warm-ups, warrior salutations, wave sequences, you know the deal by now.

If there are part poses particularly related to backbends that you would like to see during this class, please drop a note. I will be sure to include them. Also, for those who love inversions, we will be incorporating an inversion in this class, because inversions help us strengthen our core which in turn strengthens our back.

So be ready, bring energy, and of course, have fun!

See my comments and reflections for this class below.