Here’s an idea you can build on…plan your class with three types of poses in mind: forward folds, backbends and twists. Folds, backbends and twists are complimentary—your body will begin to crave them as you move through class. Basically you’ll follow the pattern Rupali suggests in this Vinyasa Short on Folds/Backbends/Twists. She shows three repetitions […]
Anantasana and sphinx make up this brief ‘Vinyasa Short’
Anantasana is one of those sneaky poses…looks easy but it’s really not. By starting this short sequence in sphinx, you end up traveling across your mat laterally. And yes, you’ll also end up rolling off the mat a bit. C’est la vie! This sequence starts belly down in sphinx, then rolls off to one side […]
A ‘Vinyasa Short’ back-strengthening sequence for variety
We focus on back strengthening in this Vinyasa Short, but at first glance it may fool you. Even though back strengthening is the main focus, this sequence includes a wide range of movements: twisting, forward folding and of course, awareness and strength of the entire core. What this means is that the whole trunk gets […]
Asana tip sheet #37: Parsva Bakasana
Parsva bakasana (aka, parsva kakasana) is not one of those “out of the box” poses—meaning, you don’t usually stick this arm balance on your very first try. Although there are plenty of exceptions to that statement (such as men with excellent upper body strength), us mere mortals will need a few things in place before […]
Asana tip sheet #36: Pincha Mayurasana
Pincha Mayurasana (“feather of the peacock” pose) is named for the lift of a peacock’s tail feathers before they spread open. Hold this image in your mind as you play with this pose to help you embody this beautiful creature and increase your success with this arm-balance inversion. This stunning Indian native with its iridescent […]