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Yoga Video: Sun Salutation A
I know I've already described Sun Salutation A to you, but seeing it in action makes it much easier to learn, so follow along with me.
It's a great warm-up for running or biking, or a gentle way to wake up in the morning so you can ditch your usual cup of coffee (OK, well, maybe not, but it's worth a shot).
Music: Transform by T.J.
Strike A Pose: Sun Salutation B
When you take an Ashtanga yoga class, it always begins with the opening chant, then 5 Sun Salutation As in a row, and then 5 Sun Salutation Bs. In other types of yoga, they usually do variations on these sun salutations, so parts of this series may look familiar to you.
Sun Salutation B has just a few more poses than Sun Salutation A.
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Strike a Yoga Pose: Downward Facing Dog
We've reached the last pose in the Sun Salutation A. Downward facing Dog, or Down Dog as I usually call it is one of the toughest poses to hold in yoga. It works every part of your body, and when you first begin to do yoga, you have a hard time holding this pose for more than 2 breaths.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Downward Facing Dog
If taking yoga was one of your goals for 2009, let me introduce you to Downward Facing Dog. It is probably the most basic yoga pose, and no matter what style of yoga you study, you'll probably end up in this pose more than a handful of times in one class. Even though it looks pretty straightforward, it's a challenging position to hold, since most of your weight is in your upper body.
Yoga "Poser": Downward Facing Dog
Do you fear that you are a yoga "poser"? If so, we're here to help you bone up on a few of the yoga basics.
Downward Facing Dog, aka - Adho Mukha Svanasana (the name of the pose in Sanskrit), is a staple of every yoga class.
Partner Yoga Pose: Triple Down Dog
Downward Facing Dog is a total body workout. It stretches your hamstrings and strengthens your upper body. If you do the Partner Yoga pose Double Dog, the person on the bottom gets even more of a deep stretch, and the person on the top gets a killer upper body and core workout.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Beginner's Sage
I'm sure you all have your favorite yoga poses. We love ones that help you stretch out and increase your flexibility. Or the ones that help us heal or rehabilitate injured muscles.
Get Physical: Family Yoga
Doing yoga can be so much fun, especially when you do it with people you care about. Why not designate a half hour this weekend to practicing with your entire family? Ideally you should do it around 10:30 or 2:30, so you are in between mealtimes (yoga doesn't feel very good on a full or completely empty belly).
Strike a Yoga Pose: Sun Salutation A
We've finally learned all the poses that make up Sun Salutation A, so we can link them all together.
The Sanskrit word for Sun Salutation is Surya Namaskar. Surya means "Sun," and "Namaskar" is a greeting of honor and respect to the divinity present in each one of us.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Quarter Dog
If you love the way Downward Facing Dog stretches out your hamstrings, calves, and lower back, but don't love the wrist pain the pose can cause, then here's a variation to try. With your forearms on the ground, the quarter dog variation takes the weight out of your hands and wrists. Even though this pose seems relaxing, it's not as easy as it looks.
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