When I practice Yoga, I like to keep the girls in place. You know when you're in Down Dog and you notice your chest is slowing falling out of your top. Then have to stop to fix your shirt every five minutes.
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When I practice Yoga, I like to keep the girls in place. You know when you're in Down Dog and you notice your chest is slowing falling out of your top. Then have to stop to fix your shirt every five minutes.
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Even though you're not supposed to have favorites when it comes to Yoga poses (since all poses are seen as mentally and physically beneficial), I can't help but say a little internal "Yay!" when an instructor does Wheel pose in class. I assume you probably have a favorite pose too. Check out what it says about your personality, according to Gaiam Life.
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If you love backbends, it's because you are probably emotional with an open heart and tender nature, and hold excitement about the future. Here's a variation to the backbend called Inverted Staff. The base of this pose is actually a headstand, so it's a very grounding.
Sanskrit Name: Viparita Dandasana
English Translation: Inverted Staff Pose
Also Called: Two-Legged Inverted Staff or Headstand Backbend
There are two ways to get into this pose.
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I know this pose looks extremely difficult, but if you've practice doing it with a ball and in front of a couch, then you're ready to try it on your own. Scorpion pose will strengthen your shoulders, abs, back muscles, and improve your balance.
Sanskrit Name: Vrschikasana
English Translation: Scorpion Pose
Also Called: Scorpion
To learn how to get into this pose .
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If you're an avid yoga or Pilates girl, and you want a quality mat that's good for the earth and light on your purse then check out Lotuspad mats ($40). They're made of 100-percent biodegradable TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), and even though this mat is 5 millimeters thick, when it's all rolled up, it feels really lightweight so it's easy to carry. It resists bacterial and fungal growth and is reversible, so you can use both sides.
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So many people I know are always complaining of lower back pain and tight shoulders from sitting all day. We're either standing or hunched over a desk and we hardly ever bend our backs in the opposite direction. So give this One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose a try.
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I'm all for stretches that increase flexibility in my spine, so if you're the same way, grab a friend and give this pose a try. Not only will you feel like you're weightless, but your partner on the floor will feel a nice release in her lower back.
If you want to know how to get into it .
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Keeping your hips flexible helps prevent injury, and here's a great hip stretch you can do with a partner. It's similar to the Seated Straddle Lounge, but for this one, the person on the bottom is in Butterfly pose with her feet together and her knees out wide.
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Music: "Shiva Shambho" by Namaste
To see a detailed description of how to do this hip-opening partner pose .
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If your back is feeling sore or tight, you need to find someone to lean on and I mean that literally. Find a willing partner and give this double yoga pose a try. To be honest, when I first saw this pose, I thought it looked boring, but trust me – it feels amazing.
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