Movement: Urdhva Dhanurasana

Playing with wheel pose the other day I discovered that I can, in fact, still kick over. This used to come easily to me fifteen years ago or so and I'm psyched to find out I can still do it. ​

On Props

​Props aren't just to help the beginners, my friends! There are a lot of ways you can use props to get the most out of your yoga sesh. We all need a restorative class now and then, and props, specifically blocks, can lend themselves to a far deeper practice. When used in child's pose, blocks can give you that extra something that'll allow you to relax even more. Here's how: 

​Set the foundation

Step 1: Set the foundation. For child's pose props, you'll want to sit back on your shins, and set the blocks up as shown above, like a sort of letter T with a space between.​

​Take child's pose

Come forward, resting your chest on the vertical block and your forehead on the horizontal block. There should be no effort here- completely melt into the mat and blocks. Adjust the blocks as needed.​

Hope you enjoy!​

Yoga Video: 15 Min Afternoon Yoga

​Originally this video was just under 20 minutes and I was really pleased with it, but then I went to upload it to YouTube and found out I was allowed exactly 15 minutes. Bummer. I had to cut out some of the most important stuff: setting the foundation for tadasana, and talking you into savasana, so apologies for that. Also, towards the end the video goes completely blank but you can still hear me talk. Not sure why that happened but the poses at that point are self explanatory I think.

The music here is Opening the gates by Drala,Trouble's what you're in by Fink, and Near light by Olafur Arnalds.​ Check out more music posts here, here and here. 

Hope you enjoy!​

Yoga Tip: Side Crow

Side crow is a pose that is pretty special to me because I used to have really weak wrists and I never thought I'd be able to do this pose. Little by little, I was able to work up to it, and it's now one of my favorite asanas. 

Here's how to do it: 

Step 1: Stand tall in tadasana. As you inhale, bend the knees and bring your hands to your chest in prayer position. As you exhale, twist from the navel and hook the outside of your right elbow to the outside of your left knee. Squeeze your thighs together here, and breathe.

Step 2: On your next inhale, set your hands on the ground. Exhale and position the outside of your left hip on your left tricep; and put the outside of your left knee on your right tricep.  

Step 3: Find your dristi. Inhale and lift yourself up, pushing into the fingertips and mounds of the fingers. Feel yourself very light. Keep your feet, ankles and knees together. Breathe, and come down slowly.

Tip: If you're new to this, put a pillow down in front of your face in case you fall. 

Benefits: Strengthens arms, wrists and core.

Yoga Tip: Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana (what?)

Eka pada adho mukha svanasana is Sanskrit for one foot downward dog (or, as I like to say, 3 legged dog). This is a great way to transition from downward facing dog into a warrior version. Adding this as a transition in your sun salutations can make your vinyasa more athletically demanding, if you're looking for that. Let's take a look at it.

How to do it: 

1. Take your downward dog. Check your alignment- picturing your body as an upside down letter V. Push into the fingertips, invite the heels to come to the mat. Lift the sits bones to the sky. Breathe deely. 

2. Inhale and lift the back leg. Only go as high as you can without tilting the pelvis to the side. Engage the arms, finding an external rotation. Engage both legs, finding an internal rotation. Push out of the ball of the lifted leg. Engage the core. Breathe. Slowly lower the leg down, and go on to the other side. 

Benefits: Lengthens the spine and hamstrings. Strengthens the core and shoulders. 

Tip: Keep your weight evenly dispersed between your hands and standing foot. 

Movement: Side Crow With Variation

​Playing around in the park recently