this will make you want to get up and have a nice stretch
yoga provides relief from sitting as well as better standing posture
sitting
Category Archives: Yoga as Therapy
slow down
I should post this at my workshops 🙂
Hope to see you: Breathe With Purpose is around the corner at YOCOMO or, for my American friends, at Being And Breathing – South Bay Yoga Conference
Balasana – child’s Pose
Yoga therapy to calm the brain and other marvelous benefits:
The Benefits of Child’s Pose:
- Releases tension in the back, shoulders and chest
- Recommended if you have dizziness or fatigue
- Helps alleviate stress and anxiety
- Flexes the body’s internal organs and keeps them supple
- It lengthens and stretches the spine
- Relieves neck and lower back pain when performed with the head and torso supported
- It gently stretches the hips, thighs and ankles
- Normalizes circulation throughout the body
- It stretches muscles, tendons and ligaments in the knee
- Calms the mind and body
- Encourages strong and steady breathing
open shoulders
This photo shows me using the 3 Minute Egg as a fantastic prop to help get external rotation in the shoulders which is necessary for reverse namaskar arms. Great example of yoga therapy for those of us who sit at our computers!
Back Care
“Back problems do not occur in a vacuum”
~ Mary Pullig Schatz, M.D. Back Care Basics
Learning to do yoga postures appropriately for your body is what Yoga Therapy is all about
Yoga Therapy Thursday
Every yoga pose has a variety of effects on all the systems of the body.This variation of a high lunge is a great way to strengthen the quadriceps, stretch the iliopsoas and open the shoulders. You can strap the wrists or elbows and slide a wedge under the back foot too. Great energizing asana and helpful for balance.
Yoga Therapy Thursday
Be yourself
“you are perfect as you are”
Today I will practice self acceptance
support
no pain!
Remember Jane Fonda ? She coined the phrase “no pain no gain”. Well, in your yoga practice, pain is not gain. Here are a few review tips for practicing pain-free yoga
1. Embrace your experiences.
2. You are unique. Three people in the same class have different needs. Inform your teacher of any health concerns and/or seek qualified private instruction.
3. If you have any health concerns, are new to yoga or unsure about something, have questions, anything, take a private class.
4. Are you going into a yoga class with an old injury or weakness?
5. Are you easily distracted and miss directions?
6. Are you looking (secretly) to push yourself to the point of pain?
7. If you practice on your own, are you organic in your flow, or do you do go on autopilot?
8. A Teacher is a guide, but your own knowledge and instincts should override outside directions and you can and should be able to skip/omit/modify/rest
9. Go mindfully always.
10. Do your research. If your knees are stiff, but you are dying to do the lotus pose, read and see if there are contra-indications (there are). Be prepared to be appropriate in class, and consider whether the one “everyone” is doing is right for you. If you do Group classes, find one that feels right and stay present on your own mat.
Yoga is a system, not a sport. Most people need enough physical challenge to heal a tense body and calm a busy mind…the path of moderation and meditation awaits you.