Journey Into Yoga

Avery focuses (again) on core exercises, emphasizing that yoga poses are simply body shapes with benefits. The workout involves bicycle poses, which engage various abdominal muscles and obliques, and is described as fun and fast-paced. Avery advises working at one's own pace, breathing, and relaxing. The session includes alternating elbow-to-knee movements, with each set lasting 10 breaths, follow...

Avery Cundill leads a yoga session focused on strengthening the lower abdominal muscles, which also benefits the back and aids in stabilization and balance. The exercise can also tone the inner thighs. Avery emphasizes the importance of breathing and moderation to avoid back strain. The session begins with the participant lying on their back, legs bent, and arms in various positions. The exercise...

Single leg lifts are a great and effective way to bring awareness attention and strength to the low belly space. When we work with these lifts, it is important to pay attention to your low back and if the work is bringing irritation to this part of the body.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Today I guide listeners through a yoga session focused on strengthening the lower abdominal muscles, or “low abs.” I explain the importance of targeting different core muscle groups for overall stability, mobility, and spinal health, noting that most previous work has focused on the upper abdominals and obliques. The session begins with participants lying on their backs, knees bent, and hands posi...

As we work into the deep muscles of the core, we will add in a twist for good measure to our work today. The twist will allow us to not only strengthen these muscle groups but also to cleanse and detox the internal body as we go. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

This deep shoulder opener sometimes is enlightening, in that it can really bring to light shoulder tension that may be happening in the body. Using the strap is helpful as it allows you to adjust where you are in the pose. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Our journey has included using props in our practice and today we will change that prop to a strap. Using a strap to help open the shoulders can be an effective way to go a bit deeper into this often very tight part of the body. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Core work is always energizing and invigorating, even though it doesn’t always feel like it in the moment. Core work is a component of total body wellness as it can prevent injury and pain.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Today we will continue on with yoga strength training, and this time we will work into the chest area with a block supported chest press. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Our work today is going to be fun I promise, and at the same time, it will challenge the body in a way that I don't think we have done before! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Balancing eagle pose, although not a pose that has a block as a component, will still benefit from recreating that leg engagement….but I am jumping ahead… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Adding the block to the mix in tadasana requires us to engage the muscles of the legs in a slightly different way…a way that perhaps encourages tone into the thighs, knees and pelvis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Today, we are going to explore Downward facing Dog with a bonus prop to engage the thigh muscles and core! This is a fun one in that there a few different things to pay attention to that we don’t necessarily have to think about when not using the block.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Today's episode will include using a block between the thighs for a deeper engagement of muscles while we work through cats and cows. Adjusting these poses slightly will help to deepen and perhaps even change how the pose feels. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Working with a yoga block to build strength and deepen our connection to the core, I’ll guide you through supported curl-ups and show you how engaging the thighs around the block activates the muscles from your pelvis all the way to your navel. Whether you have a foam block, a towel, or a folded blanket, you’ll be able to join in and feel the difference this simple prop can make. Let’s breathe, mo...

Turning today to a part of the body that can be a hot bed for many of us - the calves. A very common complaint, tight calves can happen for a multitude of reasons, which will look at today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

We have touched on the quads in past episodes, but today we are going to a bit deeper. When we work with releases into the quads, it’s important to be kind to yourself and not move into the area of being in pain. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Our work in today's episode will be to attempt to release the glute muscles using a tennis ball - this work can be deep so it is important to breathe and soften into the tennis ball. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

As we continue releasing tension from the body from top to bottom, today we will be working on the area at the bottom of the ribcage. An interesting spot, which may have some or a lot of tension. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The area we will be working on today is the upper shoulder area, an often tight part of many of our bodies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Today we will be working through a passive practice or a receiving practice, meaning you will be more in a receptive role to the feed back the tennis balls are giving to you - it should feel like a massage if done correctly, or a release, so we will make sure the positioning of the tennis balls is correct so that this can happen.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

Thunderbolt not only stretches the feet but also encourage proper alignment of the spine, In addition promotes healthy posture and relieving tension in the back muscles. This pose also provides a beautiful stretch to the ankles and feet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

This pose provides a very deep stretch into the sole of the foot and is very beneficial to the health and wellness of the feet, as our feet hold a lot of tension. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Rolling a ball under the foot is an extremely effective way to relax and loosen the bottom of the feet which I like to refer to as an overused area of the body - we literally out all of our weight on this part of the body so yes - it needs some attention. Also! Avery has a weekly  Substack called Declutter U . It is full of great ideas to declutter your life.  Sign up now and start makin...

As we continue on with our journey into the feet, I want to encourage you to do these actions whenever and wherever you want - they are easy and quick and can bring a lot of relief to not only the feet but also to the legs. Also! Avery has a weekly  Substack called Declutter U . It is full of great ideas to declutter your life.  Sign up now and start making space in your life. See Privac...