About.com Yoga

Limited Edition Manduka Black Cherry Mat

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:23:00 +0000

Lots of yogis love their Manduka Black Mat PRO mats. These super-luxe mats are long-lasting, thick, and endowed with anti-slip properties. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Manduka is offering a limited edition Black Cherry colored version of this popular mat. Get 'em while they're hot. And for other V-Day ideas, check out my gift guide. Yeah, there's chocolate on there.

Limited Edition Manduka Black Cherry Mat originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 22:23:00.

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Standing Forward Bend - Uttanasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:01:19 +0000

Hamstring Quest 2010 (see Making Lemonade) begins (and sometimes ends) with uttanasana. In class, I find that although I do this pose often, I don't get the longer holding time that seems to be required for my hamstrings to start to open up. It's great to hang out here for awhile when I'm doing my home routine.

Standing Forward Bend - Uttanasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 23:01:19.

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Making Lemonade

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:06:12 +0000

It's been over a month now since I tweaked my shoulder coming into an upward facing dog. I haven't had a nagging injury like this since the great hamstring pull of 2003; that took forever to heal. I'm trying to take my own advice on yoga injuries and not practice on it. I know this is the way to heal, but it's been making me grumpy! Until I decided that instead of dwelling on all the poses I can't do, I'm going to try to make the most of those I can do: in particular, forward bends. Even before the great hamstring pull of 2003 (see above), my hamstrings have been a bane. They are so quick to tighten up when not stretched regularly. So this is my practice now, and I'm actually looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Making Lemonade originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 12:06:12.

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Wednesday Stretch Break

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:01:56 +0000

Hey, you! Yes, you, the one hunched over your computer. Come up for air for a minute. Take a break. Do these desk stretches. Your back will thank you.

Wednesday Stretch Break originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 07:01:56.

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Pyramid Pose - Parsvottonasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:02:26 +0000

A reader recently wrote me to ask the difference between pyramid pose and what I call straight leg lunge (which I know isn't a great name, since a lunge just isn't a lunge without a bent leg, but this pose is what happens when you are in a lunge and then straighten the front leg). These two positions are quite similar, but in pyramid pose, the stance is a little shorter to allow for an emphasis on forward bending over the front leg. In the straight leg lunge, the emphasis is more on straightening the front leg rather than forward bending. Also the back heel is placed down in pyramid, with the foot turned out 45 degrees, while the heel stays up in the lunge. These small differences allow for a subtly different stretch.

Pyramid Pose - Parsvottonasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 22:02:26.

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Every Day Is New

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:48:48 +0000

The first month of the new year is drawing to a close. If you didn't accomplish all your goals this month, don't worry, because you get a chance to start again with a new month. In fact, why even wait for February first? Each new day offers up the opportunity for a fresh start. So if you still need to get to your fist yoga class, prepare yourself by reading How to Start Doing Yoga. And if your goal is to practice everyday, use the 30-Day Quick Start Guide to keep yourself on track.

Every Day Is New originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 11:48:48.

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Yogi, Not Foodie

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:01:07 +0000

The yoga blogosphere and twitterverse were a-chatter today over this article in the New York Times: When Chocolate and Chakras Collide. The article describes a yoga/foodie event where people pay to have a gourmet dinner after a yoga class, and then segues into a discussion of various yoga teachers takes on what yogis should and shouldn't eat. While I don't believe that yoga has to be all about austerity, it doesn't seem to be a natural fit for a hedonistic dining experience either (especially one that has to be enjoyed while sitting on your yoga mat after you've just used it). Aside from the moralistic debate over diet, I go to yoga to do yoga, not to have dinner. I don't see this "trend" catching on.

Yogi, Not Foodie originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 23:01:07.

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Yogis for Haiti

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:03:22 +0000

Yoga/public service organization Off The Mat Into The World has organized a yoga studio benefit for the victims of Haiti's recent earthquake. Studios participating in the January 27 (that's tomorrow) event will donate a portion of their daily profits to help the recovery efforts in Haiti. Check this list of yoga studios to find one near you so you can downdog for a good cause.

Yogis for Haiti originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 22:03:22.

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Triangle Pose - Trikonasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:54:51 +0000

Can I share my most favorite self-adjustment with you? I think you'll love it too. In triangle pose, drop your raised arm behind your back. If you can, reach around and grab hold of your hip crease on the front leg. Use that leverage to open the raised shoulder and your chest to the ceiling. Exhale a big sigh of relief. You can thank me later.

Triangle Pose - Trikonasana Is the Yoga Pose of the Week originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 22:54:51.

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Yoga for Wii Review

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:27:56 +0000

Did you get a Wii for Christmas? Are you wondering if you should run out and get the new yoga game for the Wii? Well, I reviewed the new Wii yoga game and I'm sorry to say that you should probably just stay home and hula hoop with your plain old Wii Fit. It's probably raining outside anyway.

Yoga for Wii Review originally appeared on About.com Yoga on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 23:27:56.

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