Her Active Life

I have had the pleasure of sampling the classes of a number of different instructors at several different gyms and studios in the many years that I have been practicing yoga.  Some of them practiced in a style that I found highly…

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B. K. S. Iyengar is one of the most famous yogis in the world. He is credited with the development of Iyengar yoga. I start this piece by mentioning his name because I want you to think about something he…

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OM (The Universal Sound)

Description

OM is the sound of the Universe. The vibration of all living things. It is paramount in Hinduism. The sound represents the impersonal Absolute of Hinduism — omnipotent, omnipresent, and the source…

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Yoga has long been reputed to have more than just physical health benefits, and new research is corroborating the claims that yoga can make miraculous changes to physical and emotional health.

A team of researchers from the SP…

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The Corpse (Savasana)

Description

Relaxation pose.  Splayed out flat on the back, eyes closed, palms up, arms and legs open, feet flopped outward. Looks like a “corpse”.

Benefits

Relaxes the body and mind,…

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A combination of a few different styles, Hatha yoga is a very suitable practice for beginners. This is possibly the most common form of yoga these days, and it focuses mostly on different positions along with proper breathing techniques to increase…

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Annelise Hagen has written a book called The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles with the Natural Facelift. She is an avid yoga practitioner and teacher. However, she was puzzled at the number of her clients who were caring for their bodies but…

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Tree pose (Vrksasana)

Description

Standing pose to increase balance, held on one leg – then the other. Looks like a “stork”.

Benefits

Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine. Stretches the groins, inner thighs,…

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I am trying to draw my forehead to my shins in Pade Hastasana, the forward bend posture, and I notice the tops of my feet are dotted with marbles of sweat. Actually, rivulets of sweat are cascading down from my knees. Class…

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Child Pose (Bala-Asana)

Description

Child Pose is a resting pose, held from 30 seconds to several minutes. It is a seated folding over of your torso onto your thighs.

Benefits

The Child…

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Breath of Fire (Agni Prasana)

Description

Practiced seated, Breath of Fire actually “fires-up” your nervous system, stimulating glands (and thus, purifying the blood). The technique creates pressure (through the contraction and expansion of breathing muscles) to…

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Pranayama (Breath control, concept of “vital air” as a life force)

Description

A breath exercise. Literal translations include “suspension of breath” and “regulation of breath”.

Benefits

Treats a wide range of stress related disorders,…

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Double Pigeon Pose (Dwi Pada Rajakapotasana)

Description

Seated pose (similar to “cross-legged” or lotus), ankle to knee, bent at a right angle, stacked on top of each other (like fire-logs), horizontal to the front wall and parallel to…

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Breath of Fire (Agni Prasana)

Description

Staccato type, deep breathing that brings awareness to the diaphragm, abdomen and lower region of the lungs. Breath of Fire actually “fires-up” your nervous system, stimulating glands (and thus,…

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Sanskritt (“refined", “consecrated” and “sanctified”)

Description

One of the world’s most ancient languages, one of the 22 official languages of India, also a liturgical language of Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and Sikhism. Sanskrit is considered a classical language, because…

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