It is similar to a diving board – preparing the body for purification, so that it may be ready to receive higher techniques of meditation. The word Hatha comes from Ha which means Sun, and Tha which means Moon. Hatha Yoga blends energizing and dynamic yoga postures (represented by the sun) with relaxing and meditative yoga postures (represented by the moon)…
This is the crème de la crème of all yoga poses for the neck, upper back, and shoulders. This pose has done the most for me in getting rid of acute discomfort in my neck and upper back. Start by lying on your stomach on the floor. Slowly raise your head, shoulders, and chest off of the floor, using the muscles in your upper back to do so. You will be resting on your…
Maintain 100-105°F room temperature or body heat because the heat prepares the body for stretching and opens its pores for releasing toxins. Choose a room for yoga practice and heat the room by using a space heater. If you choose a bathroom that has a tub, fill the tub with hot water, which will keep the room hot. Can’t heat a room? Then wear clothing that will keep…
Fights Stubborn Fat The reason yoga is such an effective workout for weight loss is because it fights stubborn fat stores, especially as you age. There are a number of reasons for that, including strength and muscle development, lower stress levels, connection of the mind with the body, and overall happiness. By changing your mood and attitude and making you more…
Because the practice of yoga includes learning so many new postures, yoga asana images are great learning tools both for remembering the postures as well as learning to execute them correctly. Using Yoga Asana Images Taking yoga classes with an experienced instructor is the best way to learn yoga properly, but supplementing these yoga classes with your own at-home…
By 90 Degree by Reflex | Posted in | | Like drinking your morning coffee, rolling out the yoga mat and doing yoga becomes one of the most satisfying habits you could ever develop. Yoga gives you the self-confidence, mindfulness, and energy to make your day the best it could be! While completing a full yoga series is ideal, we might not have that hour to spare most…
Recently, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and caught a glimpse of what looked like a photo of a yoga studio I used to teach at in Miami. The angle was from the ground, and I could see what looked like 10 or so “corpse-like” bodies with towels over their faces and toes up in the air. I realized it was in fact the studio I taught it, and this image was a Facebook…
Many people hold stress and tension in their upper backs, leading to tightness and pain. And although playing sports and lifting weights are good for your body, some activities can leave your upper back muscles feeling sore and stiff. Release tension and stretch tight upper back muscles with the ancient practice of yoga. Just a few poses performed when you re feeling…
If you ve ever arrived early for a yoga class, you ve probably noticed your fellow students running through some simple stretches on their mats. Though most classes do start with a warm-up sequence, it s a good idea for you to know a few basic poses that will help get you ready for the session ahead. In addition to preparing your physical body, doing a few poses when…
THIS WILL HELP TOO! Lower Back Pain (LBP) affects most people at some point in their lives. In a majority of cases, LBP can be significantly reduced or completely relieved with Pilates. The combination of deep abdominal strengthening, postural awareness, and release and stretching exercises makes Pilates extremely effective in the prevention and treatment of LBP…
Do you think that your headstand or Downward Dog was handed down from yogi to yogi for centuries, or when you re doing the Sun Salutation, you ve joined the ranks of yogis who were practicing those same motions thousands of years ago? Then think again. The first is, Sounds great! I d love to try it. The second, though a minority, tends to be quite vocal. They sputter…
We’ve all been there… you’re working on a project and you have to wait for someone else to finish their part of the work before you can get started on yours. Every day (or maybe every hour) you spend valuable time checking in on their progress. Or maybe you assume they’ll let you know when their piece is done, only to find out they’d finished it last week, and you…
A tight piriformis is one of the major causes of sciatic pain. We look at the anatomy of the hip and which yoga poses can help. In part one of this series I gave an overview of In this article we look in more detail at one of the major causes of sciatic pain: Piriformis Syndrome We ll look first at the anatomy of the hip and the piriformis muscle and then which yoga…
The hardest workout for endurance athletes is rest, especially when it s to recover from an injury. Runners, cyclists, triathletes and regular gym goers train hard. If there s no pain then there s no gain. But with the constant wear and tear on the body, many experience pain in the lower back. Protecting the spine is of utmost importance when training. The best way…
The following is a comprehensive series of low back pain exercises modified and expanded from several different sources. Their purpose is to stabilise the trunk posture by stretching and elongating tight muscles such the back extensors, hamstrings and hip flexors (i.e. Psoas and Quadriceps), while also strengthening the abdominals and gluteals. It is suggested for…
Asana is one of the eight limbs of classical Yoga, which states that poses should be steady and comfortable, firm yet relaxed helping a practitioner to become more aware of their body, mind, and environment. The 12 basic poses or asanas are much more than just stretching. They open the energy channels, chakras and psychic centers of the body while increasing flexibility…
