Yesterday, I did a wicked good (I’m in Massachusetts right now :D) power flow yoga class with my friend, Amanda. I always like to get out of my usual NYC yoga studio and stretch my horizons a little (or a lot, like in Anti-Gravity Yoga), so this class was a treat.
The yoga instructor, Annie, brought incredible energy to the class. I honestly felt challenged throughout the entire 75 minutes.
Annie also helped me make some really great adjustments. At one point, she (gently) pulled my neck out of my body, just like a turtle 😀
I want to share with you a few of Annie’s adjustments, because with any luck, they might make a difference in your next yoga class…
3 Tricks for Tricky Poses
1. Downward Facing Dog
Turns out, it’s not so much about down, as much as it’s about up. Annie pulled my hips up, into the air, and… WOW! This simple change displaced a great deal of weight from my arms to my legs. My arms were thrilled to have some relief, and the back of my legs got a deep stretch 😀
So, try to lift your hips straight into the air. If that doesn’t work, there’s always this option… 😀
2. Pigeon Pose
For pigeon pose, the trick is in the set-up: If you start in upper push-up plank and bend your leg just under your elbows (see below), you should do 3 push-ups there. Then, you simply lower your body from upper to lower push-up plank and BAM– you’re in your perfect pigeon pose! No twitching of the legs, no child birth pain in the hips, just a thorough stretch… for lack of a better word 😀
This guy has the right idea, but his legs are too high in the air. Of course, if you can do that, Â all the power to ya!
3. “Love Your Length”
This is Annie’s mantra, and I used it the whole class! I am convinced it can be applied to every single yoga pose… unless you can prove me wrong 😀
When I took Annie’s advice and concentrated on lengthening my poses, I found that my practice became mentally easier and physically deeper. Love your length–this mantra is definitely a keeper 😀
Smile out loud,
Rachel
What we’re talkin’ about…