Journey Into Yoga

Our feet take a beating and its important that we try and take care of them. For the next few weeks I am going to look at a few different yogic actions that can help strengthen and stretch the feet, kicking off this series today with something I like to refer to as “finding space between the toes.” Also! Avery has a weekly  Substack called Declutter U . It is full of great ideas to declu...

 The sun salute in yoga is a sequence designed to warm the body inside out. When people talk to me about “hot yoga” I most typically respond with “Do enough of these and you will be hot, trust me!”  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

As we re-visit downward facing dog, we arrive at a pose that strengthens arms, core, legs, wrists, and shoulders. It Stretches the hamstrings, spine, and shoulders and also energizes the body and mind.  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 Privacy Policy at...

Cobra and upward facing dog both help to open the chest, strengthen the back body and also stretch out the abdominal muscles. Both poses do similar things, with upward facing dog being a more challenging version.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In today's episode we have a choice in our pose as we journey through a sun salute - should I lower all the way down to my mat or should I hover half way in the more energizing chatturanga - decisions decisions! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Plank pose is a strong and energizing pose that you have most likely heard of in some way. It is definitely challenging so I am for sure going to give you options as it requires a lot of strength to do.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Our next posture will include a choice. Lunge or low lunge will be our next posture and which ever option you choose, it provides many benefits. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Standing forward fold and Standing half forward fold are the next poses in the sun salute journey, and we will explore both of them today as they go nicely together, like peanut butter and jam! 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 our sun salute journey moving to the next posture in the sequence which is upward salute. Even though this pose is sometimes overlooked as a connector pose, it is important in and of itself. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

I have titled this episode “prayer pose” as the start of us embarking on a little adventure in our yoga journey. We are going to journey into each component or pose that make up a complete sun salute beginning with prayer pose!   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Peri-menopause and menopause affect many of us during our life, and some people are affected more than others. There are many ways to manage the symptoms that sometimes come with these stages of life, and yoga is an excellent starting point in my opinion.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Recently I was asked the question: I seems to have low back pain and am wondering what yoga poses can help alleviate this issue? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The answer may surprise you, and it is: yes and no! Sometimes we mistake tight hamstrings for an arm length issue, as the tighter the hamstrings the more difficulty we will have touching the floor in standing poses. However, longer arms definitely helps, and because we canot change the length of our arms, there are other things we can do to compensate! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priva...

I have noticed that when I do a Downward dog, my heels do not touch the ground - why is this?? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Recently, I have been asked a very interesting question about the much dreaded foot cramp…why do I get them when I am doing yoga, and what can I do so as not to get them?  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

FULL DISCLOSURE ALERT! I debated doing this pose as it is a bit complicated to guide into, especially auditorily - but it’s a lovely twist and I really wanted to include it in this series so here goes nothing!! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In terms of a small recap of the pose which I feel bares repeating, legs up the wall is one of the most wonderful yoga poses to combat anxiety and stress. It helps to stretch and lengthen the hamstrings, opens the cheat, and places the body in an inversion which changes the flow i our bodies assisting in calming the nervous system. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

Today, we will explore a restorative posture that will just help you rest and relax - the fact that it can help to ease the lower back is just an added bonus! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Todays, we will explore a restorative posture that not only opens the heart, but also can help alleviate feelings of sadness or the blues. This gentle backbend will allow you to rest and relax, and the help of a support will make it all the more delicious! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Considered a deep rinse into the internal organs, twists help to bring fresh flow of blood and oxygen and fluids in the internal body. Twists do many things for our internal bodies including encouraging digestion and good functioning of the organs, and todays pose Alexander twist to a support is new exception. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at ht...

Supported bridge pose encourages some gentle energy into the legs and a nice stretch into the quadriceps muscles. It helps to lengthen the entire front of the body and on an emotional level it can help boost the spirit, provide energy and stave off any sad feelings or depression.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#...

Supported child's pose, a posture that is a forward folding pose, helps to create calm and ease in the body and mind. This posture aims at helping to alleviate stress and anxiety in the body and mind that we may feel from time to time. A hip openers, it also helps to open the ankles and feet, as well as lengthen and stretch the entire back body including the head and neck. See Privacy Po...

This pose is a heart opener and helps to open the shoulder and chest. It is a wonderful way to boost the heart and is thought to assist in alleviating depression or sadness that we may feel from time to time. It’s also thought to bring energy and calm to the body and can be held for many minutes. Additionally it helps to open the hips and groins.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priva...

Amongst other things, peaceful warrior is a heart opener where we find an open heart both physically and emotionally.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Think of your body as a tree - your leg is the trunk and the upper body is the branches free to move with the wind because we know that the trunk will remain steady and strong and deeply rooted into the ground.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .