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Strike a Yoga Pose: Balancing Star

FitSugar — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:05:36 PST

Balancing poses mostly require a tremendous amount of focus, but this one, which is a creative cross between Sage and Half Moon, requires strength in your upper body and core as well. As challenging as it is, it's also a really fun pose to try, because it makes you feel so open, adventurous, and bold.

Sanskrit Name: Utthita Ardha Chandrasana
English Translation: Extended Half Moon Pose
Also Called: Balancing Star

For details on how to do this balancing standing pose,

Begin in Downward Facing Dog pose. Step both feet together so your big toes are touching.
Move your right hand over to the left six or so inches so it's at the upper center of your mat.
Step your right foot forward two inches, and plant the sole of your right foot firmly on the mat so your toes are pointing to the left.
Roll open to your right side and lift your left hand off the mat. Raise your left leg up into the air.
Stay here balancing on your right hand and foot. Try to keep your shoulders, spine, and hips in one straight line, and gaze toward your left hand. Press your right fingertips into the mat to take some pressure out of your wrists. Hold here for five deep breaths, trying to keep your core strong and the pose steady.
Release your left hand and foot back to the mat, take a vinyasa coming back to Downward Facing Dog, and repeat this pose on the left side.

This pose is a great way to tone your waist!

Strike a Yoga Pose: Down Dog Dancer

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:00:08 PDT

Balancing poses challenge our muscles as well as our minds. Some are harder than others, and if your back and hamstrings are flexible, you'll love this one, which is a combination of Downward Facing Dog and Dancer.

Sanskrit Name: Adho Mukha Svana Natarajasana
English Translation: Downward Facing Dog Dancer Pose

To learn how to do this pose

Begin in Downward Facing Dog with equal weight on your hands and feet.
Raise your right leg up in the air and bend your knee. Then lift your right arm up and reach for your right foot. Arching your spine and kicking your foot away from you will help you stay balanced.
After five breaths, release your hand and foot to the floor, coming back into Down Dog. Then repeat this pose on the left side.

This is one of my favorite balancing poses because it's so challenging, but once I can hold my body in a stable position, it really calms my mind. Head on over to the Yoga Stretch and Tell community group and tell me, what's your favorite yoga pose?

Strike a Yoga Pose: Eagle

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:00:50 PDT

Many people take up yoga as a way to relax, reduce stress, and bring a sense of inner calmness. For me, balancing poses are the most effective at reducing the stresses of life because they require so much attention and focus that I'm forced to forget about everything else. Staying in the pose and not falling requires all your effort and concentration. Once you release the pose, you feel an amazing wave of relief and contentment. This particular balancing pose is also great for stretching out your calves, ankles, hips, and upper back.

Sanskrit Name: Garudasana
English Translation: Eagle Pose

Give this challenging balancing pose a try when you

Begin standing tall in Mountain pose.
Shift all your weight into your left foot, and lift your right knee up toward your chest.
Cross your right knee in front of your left knee, and bend both knees slightly, trying to wrap your right toes around the back of your left calf.
Keeping your drishti (gaze) on one point in front of you, cross your right elbow over your left elbow. Work on bringing your left fingertips toward the base of your right palm, and then lift your elbows straight up toward the ceiling.
Stay here for five breaths, release, and then do the other side.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Balancing Butterfly

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:00:16 PDT

If you're a runner, chances are your feet could use some extra love. Here's a tranquil pose that will stretch your arches and toes like Toe Breaker stretch, but will also open your hips and challenge your sense of balance.

To learn how to do this pose and see another variation

Begin standing on your mat with both feet together. Bend your knees and squat down, placing your hands on the floor in front of your feet.
Turn your knees out to the sides, keeping the balls and heels of your feet together. When you're ready, bring your hands to your knees as shown below.

You can stay here, or bring your hands together in front of your heart in prayer position. Hold here, balancing for five deep breaths. To release, bring your knees together and stand up.

This is one of my favorite balancing poses. What's yours? Share it in FitSugar's Yoga Stretch and Tell Group.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Half Moon

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:00:00 PST

If you've all been practicing Open Triangle, you'll have no problem floating right into Half Moon. The poses are very similar in that they focus on elongating your spine and toning the core, but Half Moon will also challenge your sense of balance.

Sanskrit Name: Ardha Chandrasana
English Translation: Half Moon Pose

To find out how to get into it

Stand on your hands and feet in Downward Facing Dog. Step your right foot forward between your hands, and rise up into Warrior 1. Now open your hips, arms, and chest into Warrior 2 pose.
Place your left hand on your left hip and stretch your right arm straight out, creating length through the right side of your body.
Shift your weight into your right foot, and lift your left foot up. Plant your right palm flat on the ground under your shoulder. Bend your right knee or use a block if your hamstring is tight.
Try to distribute your weight evenly between your right hand and foot. Look down at the ground and bring your left arm straight up. When you're ready, look up towards your left hand.
Hold for five breaths and then release the pose, coming into Downward Facing Dog. Then try Half Moon on the left side.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Dancer

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:00:00 PDT

When you're new to yoga, balancing poses offer an excellent challenge. On your first attempt you may end up falling over, but once you learn to focus your drishti (your gaze), you'll be able to balance on one leg for a long, long time – or at least five breaths. The Dancer pose stretches your shoulders and chest, increases flexibility in your hips and spine, and is also an amazing hamstring stretch for your standing leg.

Sanskrit Name: Natarajasana
English Translation: Lord of the Dance Pose
Also Called: Dancer Pose

Want to know how to get into this pose and stay balanced? Then

Begin in Mountain pose. Inhale as you shift weight into your left foot, and bend your right knee. Reach for your right foot with your right hand. If you can, bring your palm to the inside arch of your right foot. I like to slip my thumb between my big toe and my second toe, so that my right hand can hold onto the bone underneath my big toe.
Reach your left arm out in front of you and stare at one spot in front of you to help you stay balanced. When you're ready, begin to press your right foot away from you and lean your torso slightly forward. If it's easy, raise your right foot as high as you can. This will stretch out your right hip flexor. Try to keep your chest open and your left leg straight.
Stay here for five breaths and then slowly release your leg back to the ground. Stand in Mountain pose for one breath and then do Dancer on the other side.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Crow

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:00:00 PDT

I love yoga poses that both challenge my sense of balance and work on my strength, like this one called Crow. I know it looks really hard, but once you break it down step by step and practice it a lot, you'll be flying like a crow in no time. Not only does it feel amazing to be balancing solely on your hands, but this pose really works your core and upper body, so it'll make you feel strong inside and out.

This pose is ultimately done with your arms straight, which takes a ton of upper body and abdominal strength. Once you can do this easily with your elbows bent then you can work on straightening your arms.

Sanskrit Name: Bakasana
English Translation: Crane Pose
Also Called: Crow Pose

How do you do this pose? To find out read more

Strike a Yoga Pose: Headstand A and B

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:15:00 PST

Inversions are some of my favorite types of Yoga poses because I love how energized I feel getting blood circulating to my head. Plus overcoming the challenge of putting your head where your feet should be is quite satisfying. Talk about an ego boost. It should come as no surprise that inversions give you a new and interesting perspective on life.

Since I have shown you all Bound Headstand A, let's move onto Bound Headstand B. Both poses are part of the closing sequence in Ashtanga yoga, and they come right after Extended Fish pose.

Sanskrit Name: Sirsasana A and B
English Translation: Head Standing Posture A and B
Also Called: Bound Headstand and Half Bound Headstand

How do you get into it? To find out

Begin with your hands and knees on the mat. Lower your elbows to the floor and interlace your fingers, bringing your lowest pinky in front of the other pinky so both pinkies are on the floor, forming a semicircle with your hands.
Place the back of your head against your palms, and the top of your head on the mat, so your skull is vertical to the floor. Once your head and forearms feel stable, straighten both legs and walk your feet towards your face as far as you can.
Shift your hips over your shoulders, and keep your elbows planted firmly on the mat. Lift your right leg straight up towards the sky and stay here, or work on lifting your left leg up too, coming into full headstand. If you feel up to the challenge, you can try lifting both legs up simultaneously.
Eventually you can work on holding this for 25 deep breaths, but start off with five at first and work your way up to the magic number of 25.
To move into Headstand B, slowly lower both legs down halfway, so that your legs are parallel with the floor, staying here. If it's too difficult to keep your legs straight, just bend your knees slightly. After five breaths, lower your feet all the way down to the ground.

Fit's Tips: Just as in Extended Fish pose, it's hard to tell if your legs are in the right position, so have a friend watch you do Headstand B to make sure your legs are parallel with the floor.

Also, if you're worried about falling over, do this pose in front of a wall. Watch this video to learn how.

Inversion Issues: How to Remedy Common Shoulderstand Complaints

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:14:27 PDT

You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic - challenging, but basic - pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them.

"I Can't Breathe"
If you're well endowed or carry extra weight in your belly, then gravity causes added pressure on the lungs and throat, making it tough to take in a deep breath. A supportive bra and fitted top can help, but if you still have trouble breathing, then changing how you do the pose will make a huge improvement. Instead of stacking your pelvis and feet directly over your shoulders, hinge at your hips slightly, pressing them away from your face so your feet extend slightly behind your head.

Still can't breathe? Try the Legs Up the Wall variation; rest your lower back on your mat or, to give your hips a little lift, rest your lower back on a folded-up blanket or flat bolster.

Continue reading to learn how to alleviate neck pain and feelings of imbalance while in Shoulderstand.

4 Reasons to Add an Exercise Ball to Your Home Gym

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:58:44 PDT

The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below.

A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the lower back pain that too much sitting on the couch can cause.

Routine shakeup: Adding an exercise ball to your normal mat routines can shake things up and challenge you. For example, you can plank using an exercise ball at your feet to make holding your pose that much harder, or sit or lay on your exercise ball while you execute arm exercises. Even just practicing your balance by kneeling on the exercise ball can help you tone and whittle. Need some ideas? Try these amazingly effective ab and butt workouts using the exercise ball:

Find out how to do the plank pike and the hamstring curl using an exercise ball with this advanced exercise ball workout video.
Skip boring crunches and do this ball pass ab exercise instead.
Challenge your core and balance with this single-leg squat, done against a wall using an exercise ball.
Lie on the ball and work your arms with this chest press move.

Read on for more reasons to use an exercise ball.