Teacher Amy Dean in Padmasana (Lotus)

Padmasana or Lotus Pose is one that people even unfamiliar with yoga envision when the topic of yoga is brought up. It is an iconic representation of the practice, with the lotus flower having symbolic meaning in Buddhism and Hinduism. Many espouse that the purpose of the physical asana practice is indeed so that the body is supple and strong enough to be able to sit for extended periods of time for meditation, which is often done while in Padmasana. Read on to learn a few tips for accessing this pose, even with modifications. Read the rest of this entry »

As the transition point between the lower and upper chakras, the throat chakra needs a little care and feeding once in a while. What better way to tend to it than to give it a little massage. Postures like Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand), Setu Bhandasana (Bridge) and Halasana (Plow) do just that. In all three poses your head and neck are positioned in such a way that create just the right kind of compression to massage and care for this region. This month we focus on Halasana. Read on to learn how you can leverage this pose’s benefits in support of your throat chakra. Read the rest of this entry »

Ustrasana (Camel Pose) Photo by Paul Goyette

Ustrasana is a pose often lost when focused solely on achieving common backbends like Urdva Dhanurasana (Upward Facing Bow), one typically considered “more challenging.” However, when tackled with focus, commitment, and attention, yogis may find that Ustrasana is in fact the more difficult pose into which to mold one’s body. This pose is superb for encouraging you to open your heart and offers many variations for all kinds of bodies, including pregnant ones. Read on to learn a few tips for accessing this pose. Read the rest of this entry »

So you’ve seen many a sailboat cruising across Lake Michigan with ease…maybe you’ve ridden in a powerboat and experienced exhilarating wind blowing into your face with the OM-sounding engine’s vibrations allowing your mind to tune into the present moment more fully. And, yet, when your yoga teacher says, “Now let’s get into Navasana!” you immediately want to fall back into an early Savasana and avoid the vigorous third chakra balancing pose because it’s, well, “too hard.” Well, it’s time to just let go of that perspective and embrace your inner sailboat-powerboat self, that part of you that is able to easily coast with the wind and at the same time aggressively tackle the waves. In other words, tap into your third chakra, your source of power, confidence, and playfulness! Read on to learn a few tips for embracing this sometimes intimidating asana. Read the rest of this entry »

To access and balance the second chakra one needs to open the hips and nourish the reproductive organs. Gomukhasana (Cow-Facing Pose) challenges the body to do just that. In addition, it focuses on opening the shoulders creating space for the heart while also counterbalancing the abdominal and spinal muscles. Read on to discover a few tips for getting into the pose. Read the rest of this entry »