Yoga Bound Angle Pose

November 1, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

This is a great pose to open both your groin and your hips.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Sit down and place your legs so they are going out straight forward.  If your groin or hips are tight, then raise your pelvis on a blanket.
  2. Bring your knees to your pelvis, and drop your knees down to the side of your body and bring the soles of your feet so that they are touching.  Try to bring your heels as close to your pelvis as possible, comfortably.
  3. Using your thumb and your first and second fingers, grab the big toe on each foot.  Be sure to keep the outer edge of your foot on the floor.  If you are having trouble holding onto your toes, put your hand around the same-side shin or ankle.
  4. Do not put force on your knees downward.  Release the the heads of the thigh bones towards the flood.  When you do this, your knees will naturally follow suit.
  5. Continue in this pose at least 1 minute up to 5 minutes.  To finish, inhale while lifting your knees up from the floor, and extend your legs back into their starting, normal position.

Welcome to Home Yoga Fitness

October 31, 2008 by  
Filed under Featured

Developed in India more than 5,000 years ago, yoga consists of a series of poses (known as asanas) that you hold from a few seconds to several minutes. Read more

How to Do Yoga At Home

October 31, 2008 by  
Filed under About Yoga, Featured

Yoga, a moving meditation, helps a person to unify their body, their mind, and their heart.  It is also a great way to increase your fitness.  For those wanting to do yoga, it is not necessary to join a gym, a yoga school, or anything of that nature.  In fact, you can easily practice yoga from the comfort of your own home.  There are many reasons why doing yoga at home is beneficial: lack of time, money, or maybe you’re not near a yoga studio, are just a few of those reasons.

If you are wanting to practice Yoga in your home, here are a few things to help you to know what to do:

  • Be sure to get the proper tools required.  There aren’t many, but a yoga mat should definitely be used, although not specifically required.  This will allow you to focus on the poses, rather than your surroundings.
  • Set aside a specific place in your home for meditation.  It can be a room with a door that you can shut, or a section of the room you can close off.  Either one works.
  • Purchase a yoga DVD.  This will allow you to focus on doing the poses properly, by being able to see someone do it.  Trying to go off of memory, unless you are really experienced, is just a recipe for failure.
  • If you don’t have a television or don’t like visual stimulus during your practice, you can go to iTunes store and download a yoga podcast.  I am partial to the ”Yoga to the People” podcast. 
  • To go a step further, decorate the room you’ll be meditating in.  Soft music, beautiful art, plants, and soothing paint on the wall will all help you to focus and concentrate.

The best thing about yoga is that it can be done from your home.  Take these few steps, and you’ll be doing yoga like a pro in your home in no time.

The Benefits of Yoga for Kids

October 31, 2008 by  
Filed under About Yoga, Featured

In the exercise and fitness world, there are many trends that are here today, gone tomorrow.  Many fads have come and gone, and so it is fairly easy to not want to believe in any new breakthroughs in the world of fitness.  But, yoga is different, as it has stood the test of time because of the benefits both physically and mentally that those who practice yoga notice.
Read more

Yoga Sun Salutation

October 21, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

Sun SalutationThis move stretches your abdominal, lower-back, front-hip, and thigh muscles. If you’re prone to lower back pain, make a special point of tightening your abdominals, and don’t arch your lower back. Here’s how to do it:

1. Kneel on the floor and then bring your left leg forward so that your foot is flat on the floor, your knee is bent, and your thigh is parallel to the floor.
2. Lift your arms straight up with your palms facing in.
3. Pull your abdominals gently inward, and keep your shoulders down and back.
4. Look to the ceiling, and as you stretch upward with your upper body, push your weight slightly forward from your hips into your front thigh.

You should feel this stretch travel through your torso and upper body, including your arms. You should also feel it at the very top of your back thigh. Repeat with your right leg forward.

Keep in mind the following tips as you perform the sun salutation:

- Hold onto something solid, like a sturdy chair, with one hand if you have trouble maintaining balance.
- Don’t lean so far forward that your front knee moves in front of your toes.
- Don’t arch your lower back.

Yoga Triangle Pose

October 21, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

Triangle PoseMoving from a sitting or lying position to standing, the triangle pose stretches your spine and abdomen. Here’s how you do it:

1. Stand with your feet much wider than your shoulders, and place both arms straight out to the side, parallel to the floor, with palms facing up. Both feet can sit flat on the floor, or you can point your left foot, keeping your heel off the floor.
2. Inhale deeply.
3. Exhale and bend to the right.

Keep your knees straight and your hips facing forward. Don’t twist your lower body; simply bend at your waist.

Yoga Cat Pose

October 21, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

catThe cat tilt elongates your spine and eases tension in your back. Try it by following these steps:

1. Rest on your hands and knees, with your belly facing the floor.
2. Inhale deeply.
3. Exhale and pull in your abdominal muscles, tailbone, and butt.
4. Pressing down on your hands, press your back toward the ceiling so your spine rounds

Yoga Sage Twist

October 21, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

Yo-Fi with Mitchel Bleier: TwistingThis unique pose rotates the spine from left to right, toning and relaxing as you go. Here’s what to do:

1. Start in the sitting position and extend both legs forward.
2. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the floor, next to your inside left thigh.
3. Place your right hand on the floor behind you, palm down.
4. Take your left palm and wrap it around the outside of your right knee.
5. Inhale, extending and lifting your spine upward; exhale and twist your torso and head to your right side

Yoga Child’s Pose

October 21, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

Yo-Fi with Mitchel BleierThis move stretches your lower back and arms and relaxes your entire body. If you have knee problems, lower yourself into position with extra care.

Here’s what to do: Read more

Basic Yoga Poses

October 21, 2008 by  
Filed under Yoga Poses

Stretch Armstrong Sep 20 2008 237/366Easy pose

This is one of the simplest poses you’ll do — it’s a simple sitting pose in which many workouts begin. Here’s what you do: Read more

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