Principles of Womens’ Practice: Supported and Elevated Emotional Centre (Level Experienced Beginner)
In this session we explore the principle of elevating the emotional centre: the thoracic/ chest/ heart area. Importantly, we train the back body to support the chest to keep it softly lifted, rather than pushing/ thrusting the chest forward This session is part of the Short Course The Principles of Women’s Practice (Short Course; Level Experienced […]
Half Lotus (Ardha Padma) Asanas for the Experienced Beginner Level
the ardha padma leg position – taking one leg in the padmasana position – is not merely a halfway stop to full padmasana. There are many asanas that are based on the ardha padma position. This session draws interesting connections with standing asanas as preparatory positions, and then explores some of these ardha padma (half […]
Varied Arm Actions that Lead to Success in Forward Bends and Back Arches
This session starts with moving and positioning the arm in various ways – first done in isolation; and then incorporated in standing asanas. These actions are very important to bring back flexibility and strength to arm muscles, and is therefore relevant to everyone desk-workers, those who have minor cervical conditions, who experience stiffness in shoulders […]
Stability and Mobility of the Feet: Toes, Ankles, Arches and More (Short Course, Level: Experienced Beginner)
Our feet connect us to the ground, and enable us to stand upright. they are also our main line of communication with the ground that we stand on – both to sense stimuli, and to respond. Our feet are also capable of an amazing range of movements and positions – something that we tend to […]
Deskworkers Antidote – Part 2 for Exp. Beginner Level: Firmness and Weight Bearing on Legs and Shoulders
This session is part of a series of classes to strengthen the legs, align the hips, keep the groin area (the hip flexors) soft, and move the shoulders and upper back – in other words, an antidote to sitting on chairs for long hours. Not just deskworkers, but anyone engaged in any sporting activity that […]
Deskworkers Antidote – Part 1 of 2: Unfreeze Hips, Keep Shoulders Mobile
This session is part of a series of classes to strengthen the legs, align the hips, keep the groin area (the hip flexors) soft, and move the shoulders and upper back – in other words, an antidote to sitting on chairs for long hours. This session focusses on moving the hips (and the shoulders) in […]
Ribs, Shoulders, Quadriceps, Breath: The Front of the Body in Back Arches
Back arches are categorised as ‘purva pratana sthiti’ (expansion of the frontal plane) in Sanskrit. This session explores the involvement of the frontal plane of the body as we prepare for back arching Level: Experienced Beginners Duration: 50 mins. Props needed: yoga strap, a couple of blocks, one blanket
Chest and Abdominal Separation, pt. 1 of 2: Lecture & Demonstration (FREE Resource)
A brief introductory lecture and demonstration of how we can attempt to have a subjective experience of the breath in our bodies. This session also introduces the vocabulary that we often use in our classes to indicate the movement of the breath in the different regions of the body. This is the short first part […]
Chest and Abdominal Separation in Breathing, pt. 2 of 2: Demonstration & Experience (FREE Resource)
This is the second part on the introductory lecture/ exercise/ experience on experiencing the breath in the body. The session introduces one of the most common positions in which pranayama preparation is introduced in our tradition: a supine position with a support for the chest. This session is best done in combination with the first […]
Hip Health: Balancing Flexibility with Firmness
Stiff/ ‘tight’ hips, are connected to lower back pain, wearing out of the hip socket, arthritis of the knee, menstrual discomfort etc. To maintain the overall health of the hips, it is important to include many kinds of hip actions in our practice. Asanas like baddhakonasana and supta baddhakonsasana, upavistakonasana and padmasana, are often referred […]
