About

Yoga FAQ

2012-05-16T00:23:39Z

My yoga FAQs are based on actual frequently asked questions that I get in my email, plus things I wish someone had told me when I first started yoga. You'll find basic info like "what is yoga?" to weight loss to what to do about a slippery mat. If you don't see your question here, check the Ask Aunt Yoga archives. And if you still don't see it, find out how you can drop Aunt Yoga a line here.

Yoga FAQ originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 00:23:39.

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King Dancer - Natarajasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week

2012-05-14T00:14:20Z

I learned a cool transition last week: king dancer to sugarcane pose. Basically, you just tip forward in king dancer until your hand reaches the floor, et voila, you're in sugarcane. For extra credit, try coming back up.

King Dancer - Natarajasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 00:14:20.

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Arthur Boorman's Yoga Transformation

2012-05-10T23:28:34Z

The latest yoga video to go viral (over three million hits!) is this inspirational YouTube clip featuring Gulf War veteran Arthur Boorman, a former paratrooper who was severely overweight and could not walk unassisted. Boorman started doing a yoga program created by pro wrestler "Diamond" Dallas Page and, within a year, had dramatically transformed both his body and his outlook on life. For those wanted to know more, Boorman was featured on Good Morning America today. I'm curious about the cardio portion of the program mentioned in the GMA clip and the "eating guidelines" referred to on the DDP Yoga website, both of which are essential for weight loss. Anyone tried any DDP Yoga?

Arthur Boorman's Yoga Transformation originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 23:28:34.

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Prenatal Yoga Dos and Don'ts

2012-05-08T22:45:50Z

Prenatal yoga is a popular way to forge a mind-body connection, plus get in some stretching, for expectant moms. If you take a prenatal class, your teacher should be trained in the best poses for pregnancy, but if you are practicing at home or trying to adapt a regular class, it helps to know which poses are to be avoided and why. Read more...

Prenatal Yoga Dos and Don'ts originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 at 22:45:50.

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Working Through Handstand-phobia

2012-05-07T22:32:34Z

I've been a little bit obsessed with handstand lately. It seems like every teacher I have has been obsessed with it too, because it's come up in class after class. I think this prevalence has something to do with teachers looking for an alternative to headstand, which got a bad rap during the recent yoga injuries brouhaha. Whatever it is, every time we were told to bring our mats to the wall, I felt that rush of fear and began to grit my teeth. Handstand and I were not getting along.
Finally, I decided to do what has worked for me in the past when confronted with a difficult pose: workshop it at home. This meant handstand every day on the wall in my living room, with my kids giving me pointers from the couch. I looked at handstand videos, I tried to really break down what my teachers were doing when they demoed the pose in class. Were my hands too far from the wall? What was the correct position of the shoulders? Was my fear the only thing holding me back? I had this feeling like I didn't know what to do with my second leg after the first one hit the wall. Finally, after about a week of struggle, a break though came. As I assumed the position to kick up, I suddenly remembered someone describing the action of the second leg as "little hops." I tried it and, lo and behold, up flew that recalcitrant leg and I was fully inverted. Of course I thought it was a fluke but it has worked over and over again. I realized that the second leg needed to do something, it wasn't just going to come along for the ride. So if your handstand is stalled out, try the little hops method. I swear by it.

Working Through Handstand-phobia originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Monday, May 7th, 2012 at 22:32:34.

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Teaching Yoga as a Labor of Love

2012-05-03T22:51:03Z

If you are thinking of scrapping your 9-to-5 gig to pursue a lucrative career as a yoga teacher, you might want to think again. At least go read this thread on the real economics at stake over on yogadork, which was inspired by a recent article on the website GOOD. In "Making It As a Yoga Teacher: Not As Zen As You Think," writer Sue Smith details her attempt to escape the drudgery of a service industry job by becoming a yoga teacher. Ultimately, she decides to go back to waiting tables. While the dollars and cents in Smith's story accurately reflect the difficulty of earning a decent living teaching yoga, her story is a bit skewed by the fact that she approached her teaching as a way to support herself while she struggled to make it as a comedian. Which is not to say that you shouldn't be able to support yourself on a yoga teacher's income, but it will certainly improve your outlook if you also love what you are doing as a teacher. Still wondering whether to quit your day job? Check out these stories from people who did just that. Read more...

Teaching Yoga as a Labor of Love originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 22:51:03.

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Top U.S. Yoga Retreat Centers

2012-04-30T10:04:33Z

Going on a yoga retreat abroad sounds great, but if you don't have the time or money for that, there are some great retreat options right here in the U.S. of A. They seem to be clustered on the east coast and in California, making them particularly convenient for residents of those areas. Some of these centers allow you to really focus in on one yoga style, while others bring in the country's top teachers for workshops. Since the accommodations and amenities vary, take a look at this guide to the top U.S. yoga retreat centers to see what to expect if you plan a trip.

Top U.S. Yoga Retreat Centers originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 10:04:33.

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Pyramid Pose - Parsvottonasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week

2012-04-29T22:54:57Z

When you do pyramid pose, make sure to notice that the feet are not as far apart here as they are in some other standing poses. Taking a shorter stance allows you to work on really squaring the hips to the front. This becomes even more of an issue when you forward bend, since that has a tendency to cause the back hip to cock up.

Pyramid Pose - Parsvottonasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, April 29th, 2012 at 22:54:57.

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Ashtanga Vocabulary

2012-04-27T10:41:31Z

Ashtanga yoga has a lot of it's own specialized vocabulary to describe techniques and conventions of the practice. Take a look at the list below so you'll understand what's going on at the shala.

Ashtanga Vocabulary originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Friday, April 27th, 2012 at 10:41:31.

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What Make Your Home Practice Work?

2012-04-24T23:26:21Z

I love these home practice tips from readers on how they stay motivated and consistent when doing yoga on their own. Setting aside a designated yoga space, even if it's just a corner of the room is great advice. (Though if you've got your own yoga room, by all means tell us about that too.) I also like the idea of setting small goals and keeping expectations realistic. There are a lot of great online classes these days for those who'd rather follow a video. I get inspired by working on poses that I've struggled with in class or indulging in a favorite pose that I haven't done in awhile. Be sure to share what works for you too!

What Make Your Home Practice Work? originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 23:26:21.

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