Last week, we focused on the arms in garuda or eagle pose to stretch the shoulders. This week we’ll add in the legs – in this posture the position of the legs has the double benefit of building strength while
Classic version of eagle pose or garuda
Falling when you balance isn’t always a bad thing
I’ve just finished reading the book Yoga for Healthy Aging. There’s one whole chapter on balance! It explains what affects balance, how balance changes with age and how yoga can help. The authors kept emphasising how important it was to
Yoga for keeping cool when it’s hot! Part 2 (updated 15 July 2023)
If you don’t want to lie down on the floor from last week’s options for cooling down with yoga, there are other options. Some of the breathing practices from yoga also trigger the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which tells your
Yoga for keeping cool when it’s hot! Part 1
It’s official, it’s freakishly hot this summer and now impossible to purchase a fan in Aotearoa New Zealand. Luckily yoga has some tools for keeping cool. My go to favourite is legs up the wall. It’s just like the name
Intense stretch for the thighs
Stretches for the quadriceps or thigh muscles are a common request in my classes. They easily get tight from tramping, cycling and running. When they are tight they’re also a major contributor to knee pain and can also affect hip
Things get easier upside down (really)
Some poses in yoga offer great stretches but many bodies aren’t actually capable of getting in to the pose in the first place. That might be because of tight muscles, tendons or ligaments. But it can also be the way
Stretching the piriformis (think hips)
I am still on the theme of the butt, but with a change in focus on the piriformis. This muscle has a major role in hip movement and attaches at the spine. As a result it can be a common
The best 2 minute glute and hamstring stretch [video]
With the silly season fast approaching, we’re all short on time. So a briefer email and option to skip to the second stretch in this video (supta padangusthasana). There are 3 stretches in the video, start at 3:20 and watch
A twist on the classic lunge
Getting back to the glutes, or the muscles in your buttocks and around your hip joint. These big muscles work hard and easily get tight. I’ve already featured some of the classic poses to stretch this muscle group, but sometimes
Tipping the pelvis (for the better glute stretch)
Last week, I featured a few of my favourite stretches for the glutes (or the muscles in your bum and around your hip). I often recommend tipping your tailbone (or pelvis) in one direction or another to find a better