Five-Minute Yoga Challenge: roll on the floor to free your hips
In this week’s Tuesday 7:30 class, Jean told me that she’s making progress on her tight hips. “This week I actually thought about doing some hip openers,” she said. “Before, I wasn’t even thinking about it.” Ah, tight hips. If you have them, then every hip opening pose, no matter how moderate, hurts from the […]
Five-Minute Yoga Challenge: step forward from downward dog
In the world of yoga, I think of myself as a civilian. When I started taking classes, I was not a dancer, a gymnast, a figure skater, a personal trainer or an aerobics instructor. As a child I tried cartwheels, but I never stood on my hands. I had no speed and not much strength. […]
Sadhana Day Four: forward bends, take two
Sunrise at Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming – not as steep a climb as getting up some morningsOne thing I wanted to accomplish during this sadhana was to reconnect with the joy of early morning practice – and joy it is. For one thing, the nagging little voice that says: “It’s time for practice, better […]
Take the five-minute Malasana challenge
I’m a big fan of Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project blog, and her book, The Happiness Project. She writes beautifully and does a lot of interesting research. (My latest find, thanks to Gretchen, was a link to Paul Bloom’s article First Person Plural in the November 2008 Atlantic Monthly, a fascinating look at our multiple selves.) […]
Use a strap to deepen your stretch in garland pose (Malasana)
Sometimes there’s no better place to be than at the end of your rope. For example, grasping the end of a stable rope – or a stable yoga strap – can give you the extra leverage you need to deepen your stretch in Malasana and come more fully into this great pose for ankles, groins […]
Get a Leg Up on Downward Dog
When we first encounter it, most of us find downward dog somewhat daunting, with its simultaneous demands for strength and flexibility in arms and shoulders, hips and hamstrings. Over time, it gets significantly easier. Once you’re past the raw beginner stage, one of the best ways to bring even more ease into your dog pose […]