Photo Source: frivoloustendencies
1) Yoga for Cancer Patients - "While yoga doesn’t cure the disease, its stretching and breathing exercises did improve sleep, reduce dependence on sedatives and help cancer patients resume the routine activities of everyday life"
2) How to survive the first yoga class - "Check your concerns at the door, relax, remember to breathe and you'll be well on your way to your first downdog"
3) Yoga instructor job forum - find jobs, ask questions, compare salaries
Photo Source: Recycled Yoga bag by empowerdaughters on Etsy
Check out the yoga mat carrier to the left made from recycled rice bag material. Half of each bag's proceeds go to benefit Daughters NGO.
And here is the latest Yoga link roundup:
1) Fussy's post on "Don't give IT what IT wants" - yoga and life lessons
2) From Yoga Flavored Life: 10 Reasons why everyone should practice yoga
(and how great are the 108 yoga poses to download to help create sequences)
3) Gwen Bell's "What can yoga teach us about the social web"
Namaste!
Photo Source: Yoga Stretch
Have an iPhone? Practice yoga? Wondering which apps are best for you? Check out some of these top choices ...
1) Yoga Moves - $1.99
"with Yoga Moves, you'll have a robust Yoga studio with you at all times..."
2) Yoga STRETCH - $0.99
"Yoga STRETCH is your own personal Yoga instructor walking you through a
full Session including audio commentary, images and music."
3) Yoga Trainer Pro - $1.99
"With hundreds of poses, learn Yoga at your own pace with guides suited to all, from beginner to advanced."
And check out over 100 other health & wellness app recommendations.
Photo Source: Yoga Mat Bag by madebyKateAnn on Etsy
I own a few yoga mats and have found that my most favorite one has lost almost all of its stickiness.
So I went online to see if there was anyway to re-sticky my mat. The skidless towel may work for some - but without a lot of water, it did not really work for me.
Metafilter had lots of advice.
So did All Spirit Fitness.
Fit Sugar has recommendations as well.
I think it might be time to wash my mats again.
Photo Source: Yoga Woman Mosaic by shinyshards
Some links to check out on different ends of the spectrum:
2) September will be National Yoga Month -see what is planned
3) Read along with the Namaste Book Club
4) Tips on unplugging your yoga practice
5) Make yoga pants from shirt sleeves from Dollar Store Crafts
Photo Source: T-back tank top on Etsy by Enuwbe
Here in Austin it's been one 100 degree plus day after another. Now there are those who like Bikram, Ashtangha, Bodhi Yoga, etc. But if you'd prefer to create less heat and try and stay cool in your practice, try some of these:
1) sitali - pranayama cooling breath - curl up the sides of your tongue and breath through it (if you can't curl up the sides of your tongue, stick out your tongue instead)
2) forward bends - forward bending sequences are much more cooling than back bending ones
3) restorative poses - this sequence can help cool and calm the body
4) dress for the weather - try some of these cute tank tops for sale on Etsy
Photo Source: Om leather wristband by aosLeather
Here's my beginner-friendly yoga sequence for this week. Crafters, if you'd like a nice 60-75 minute practice, try this out. If you are curious about what a certain pose looks like, visit Yoga Journal's library of poses.
The theme for this week is balancing: balancing the breath, the effort & ease, the left and right sides.
SEQUENCE:
1. self–check-in for injuries or conditions
2. start in a comfortable seat – roll thighs in, lift heart, lengthen waist,
lift ribs from hips, focus on inhales & exhales (balance – equal length)
3. alternate nostril breathing – breath work exercise, 6 rounds
4. inhale, expand arms up, exhale, bring them down x4
5. Seated – circle around hips
6. Seated – spine flex – forward and back
7. interlace hands – press palms up, release, press interlaced palms
forward, release
8. Seated – shoulder rolls (rotate up. PAUSE, then back&down)
9. Seated – head to ear (neck stretch)
10. Straighten legs – point/flex feet & ankle rotations
11. Seated (legs in opposite cross) – tricep stretch
12. Seated (legs in opposite cross) – inner wrist stretch & wrist circles
13. massage jaw w/fingers
14. seated – gentle twist
15. tabletop – stretch back alternate legs (stretch calves)
16. tabletop – alternate lifting L leg/R arm, then R leg/L arm
17. cat/cow – stretch and move the spine, balance each half
18. child’s pose – stretch forward and L, then center, then R
19. down dog -> walk to forward bend
20. mountain pose – add toe balance x4 (lift arms and heels in inhale)
21. tree pose (can use wall or chair for extra support)
22. wide-legged forward bend
23. warrior 1 (use cactus-shaped arms – open heart in&out of movement)
24. wide-legged forward bend -> table top -> seated
25. seated - add eagle pose arms, then backstroke arms
26. seated forward bend
27. seated one-legged twist
28. bridge pose
29. hug knees to chests, rock side to side, massage lower back
30. supine twist
31. hug knees to chests, rock side to side, massage lower back
32. final relaxation – 5-10 minutes-> feel the balance
Photo Source: Therapeutic Neck and Shoulder Wrap by ComfyCreations
Need some pampering mixed with your yoga? Try some of these suggestions:
1) Do-it-yourself yoga retreat on a budget
2) Mom's at-home spa day
3) Do-it-yourself day spa
Photo Source: Hand carved OM rubber stamp by winemakerssister
Here's my beginner-friendly yoga sequence for this week. Crafters, if you'd like a nice 60 minute practice, try this out. If you are curious about what a certain pose looks like, visit Yoga Journal's library of poses.
SEQUENCE:
1. roll out mat, take a comfortable cross-legged seat
2. Seated – roll thighs in, lift heart, lengthen waist, lift ribs from hips, focus on breath
3. we take over 17,000 breaths a day – for this practice, take more notice
of your breath, one hand on belly, one on heart, feel inhale, feel exhale
4. inhale, expand arms up from sides, exhale, bring them down x4
5. Seated – circle around hips
6. Seated – spine flexion
7. Seated – shoulder rolls (rotate up, PAUSE, then back&down)
8. Seated – head to ear (neck stretch)
9. Straighten legs – point/flex feet & ankle rotations
10. Seated (legs in opposite cross) – tricep stretch
11. Seated (still have legs in opposite cross) – inner wrist and outer wrist stretch &
wrist circles
12. massage jaw, then create heat with hands and cup closed eyes
13. seated – gentle twist
14. tabletop – stretch back alternate legs (stretch calves)
15. chakravakasana
16. thread the needle
17. balasana – with wide knees for hip opener
18. down dog -> forward bend -> come to standing
19. tadasana – add toe balance x4
20. vrksasana (tree pose)
21. wide-legged forward bend
22. utthita trikonasana (triangle pose)
23. utthita parsvokanasana (extended side angle pose)
24. wide-legged forward bend -> table top -> seated on heels
25. hero’s pose
26. hero’s pose – add eagle pose arms
27. dandasana – stick pose
28. cobbler’s pose
29. paschimottanasana – seated forward bend
30. seated one-legged twist
31. setu bandha. – bridge pose
32. apanasana
33. supine twist x2
34. savasana (be present with breath) – 5-10 minutes
35. closing meditation
Happy practicing!
Photo Source: Aum mug by susanwindsorceramics
If you like Twitter, check out some popular sites to follow:
1) Sky Yoga Studio: http://twitter.com/skyyogastudio
2) Yoga Journal: http://twitter.com/Yoga_Journal
3) Yoga News: http://twitter.com/YogaNews
4) Yoga Finds: http://twitter.com/yogafinds
5) Yoga Updates: http://twitter.com/YogaUpdates
And I'm now on as well: http://twitter.com/the_flashbulb (though I twitter about photography, crafts, daily life, etc. as well as yoga).
Stephanie Friedman is a craft-making, photo-taking, book-loving Hatha yoga teacher.
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