Former yoga teacher in Wellington New Zealand
Parsvottanasana is often translated into English as the ‘intense side stretch pose.’ It is an intense and excellent stretch, often for the hip and glutes as well as the hamstring, but the alignment is a bit specific. You’ll know when
We’ve often done warrior I and warrior II in class, but did you know there is a warrior III? Get ready for a new adventure in balancing! There are many ways to get in to this pose, but these steps
Many people find it challenging to step from down dog forward to the lunge. This action requires both flexibility and strength. This video, from Baxter Bell Yoga, goes through some tips that will help you step forward to a lunge
Last week we looked at ways to strengthen the shoulders. This week I feature another pose strengthening pose that also incorporates active stretching for the shoulders. To get in to dolphin pose, start on your hands and knees. Bring your
There are many ways to build upper body strength that put less strain on your shoulders than press ups. We’ll look at two in this week’s tip. The first option is simply to stay in down dog for 30 seconds,
I don’t usually feature more advanced poses, because the focus is on what you can do easily at home. But over the last few weeks, we’ve worked towards half moon and our tipping balance is a lead up to this
There are several muscles you can and should be using in plank and a press-up. This example from Daily Bandha focuses on just the rectus abdominis (some of the muscles that make up your ‘abs’) and gluteus maximus (your bum) in
Last week we focused on your hands, but what about those shoulders? The strength you gain from pressing firmly into your hands on the floor should carry up to your shoulders. In plank, you should be lifting up through your
Have you noticed in class I keep saying to press in to your index finger and thumb when your hands our on the floor? In fact, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to your hands, whether you’re
The lunge is an easy pose to stretch and strengthen your legs. I’ve previously suggested variations that deepen the thigh stretch and add a twist to stretch the upper body. You can also add balance work to your lunge. Here