Tag: chest openers
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Practice: Ustrasana & Finding Courage To Listen To The Heart
The heart is often spoken of as the seat of ‘love’ and ‘compassion’, which of course it is, but it’s also a place of truth and courage, and if we dare to venture there it can reveal hidden truths about ourselves. Physically, we know that the heart is an essential muscle that pumps blood, oxygen…
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Practice: Anjaneyasana (Back-Bending Variation)
When it comes to backbends, there’s a lot more to it than just bending backwards…. In order to find the healthiest backbend for our own body, it’s important to open up, lengthen, strengthen and release all the other areas that might be restricting us from getting into a backbend that is truly beneficial for us.…
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Practice: Reverse Warrior
Also known as ‘sun warrior’ and ‘peaceful warrior’ this variation on the traditional virabhadrasana 2 gives a welcome opening to the sides of the body – notably the serratus anterior which we engage a lot during chatturangas and vinyasas, and the intercostal muscles which surround the ribs, helping to expand and open the upper body…
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Practice: Parsva Konasana Variation / Side Angle Variation / ‘Lazy Angle’
Also known as ‘lazy angle’ by the brilliant Taylor Harkness, this variation of parsva konasana helps to give a deeper opening to the front hip, while simultaneously opening up the muscles of the chest, shoulders and upper back. Taking the traditional postures and playing with them to see how our bodies respond is something that…
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Practice: Parighasana / ‘Gate Pose’
Parigha = An iron bar used for locking a gate Asana = Posture The word expansion is used a lot in Yoga practice, and it can really mean a lot of different things to each of us…. When we think about expanding the body – this…
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Practice: Marichyasana A / Pose Dedicated To The Sage Marichi
Marichi = ‘Ray of light’ (of the sun or moon) Asana = Posture This posture is ‘dedicated to the sage Marichi’, son of Brahma the creator. ‘Tightness’ within the body isn’t necessarily a problem, in fact it’s usually the overly flexible people that are more prone to injury. When we’re looking at becoming…
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Practice: Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana (Compass Pose)
Parivrtta = revolved Surya = Sun Yantra = Instrument Open your hips, hamstrings and shoulders in preparation to guide yourself in to compass pose. This pose requires patience, lots of warming up, and the ability to know the difference between listening to your body and listening to your ego. When we push ourselves in…
