Pose of the Day – Urdhva Dhanurasana

Urdhva Dhanurasna (Wheel or Upward Facing Bow) is energizing and challenging. This is a great pose to do when you are feeling listless and stuck in life.

Lie on your back with your feet flat on the ground and place your hands next to your ears, flat on the ground.  On an exhale, push up strongly into an arch, straightening the arms as much as possible.  Hold for a few breaths and come down carefully.

Avoid if you have wrist issues, back problems, high or low blood pressure, heart problems, diarrhea

Quote For The Day

“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”
~Buddha

Quote For The Day

“If you want to study yourself — look into the hearts of other people. If you want to study other people — look into your own heart.” ~ Friedrich Von Schiller

Pose Of The Day – Baddha Konasana

Baddha Konasana

Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle or Cobbler’s Pose) is a great stretch for the inner thighs and is also said to help strengthen the pelvic floor.  To do this pose all you need to do is sit comfortably (I prefer a blanket underneath), join the soles of the feet together and cradle the feet in your hands.  Sit tall and breathe normally.  If you’d like, you can also bow forward and bring the head down towards the feet.

Quote For The Day

“The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds.”
~Abraham Lincoln

Practice – Mindfulness

One of the main benefits of yoga is helping those of us (myself included) who have trouble being in the present moment. Watching the breath, working through challenging balance poses and meditation all add up to a more mindful life.

Here’s a practice to help you be more in the moment:
Seated with Ujjayi Breath (practice Ujjayi through each yoga pose to create a focal point)
Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Down Dog)
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Parvrrita Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose)
Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)
Garudasana (Eagle Pose)
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Big Toe Hold Balance Pose)
Nataranjasana (Dancer Pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Down Dog)
Balasana (Child Pose)
Savasana

“Peace is not achieved by controlling nations, but mastering our thoughts.” ~ John Harricharan

Quote For The Day

The healthy and strong individual is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he’s got an abscess on his knee or in his soul.
~Rona Barrett

Ask The Yogi

Q: Super Yoga Lady I have a question for you.  The DVD workouts have conflicting information the when you are doing a forward bend i.e. legs straight hand to the floor some say keep your legs bent a little and other say pretty much lock your knees.  Which one is appropriate or are the both appropriate at different times?  Your advice would be much appreciated.

~JP
A:  Thanks for the question!  Either straight legs or bent are fine – and both are appropriate at different times.  For example, my hamstrings are pretty open so most days my legs are straight.  However, if I am having a bad back day, I will bend my knees slightly.  NEVER lock the knees – this can create hyper extension, which is never a good idea.  Keep the thighs engaged instead. We always want to be mindful of the knees and the term “locking” is violent and encourages a hard core approach, which contradicts yoga philosophy to keep the posture steady and COMFORTABLE.

Shanti,

Theresa

Quote For The Day

“Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully.”

~Phillips Brooks

Pose For The Day – Bhujangasana (Cobra)

Bhujangasana or Cobra pose is a wonderful, energizing backbend that heals the spine and strengthens the back.  Begin lying flat on your stomach. Place hands by the rib cage.  With your legs together, engage your buttocks as you press your pubic bone firmly to the earth. As you press the hands to the earth, begin peeling your torso from the earth into a back bend.  Stretch your neck and lift your eyes towards the ceiling.  Hands can remain on the earth or for a more advanced version, bring your hands to your thighs and lift your torso higher.

If you have back issues, decrease your range of motion.