Tuesday, June 14, 2011

About Yoga: Here Comes the Sun Salutation

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From Ann Pizer, your Guide to Yoga
The official start of summer is still a week away, but why wait to celebrate when the thermometer has already tipped 100 degrees (as it did today in my town)? Well, I hear there's still a bit of June gloom on the coasts (not to mention the Southern hemisphere), so here are some warming practices and some cooling ones. Pick the one that fits your weather.

Sun Salutation
The sun salutation is really a sequence for all seasons. Do a few fast-paced rounds to warm you up when it's cold out (or in your over air conditioned office). When it's hot, try taking it a little slower, exploring each pose as a stretch instead of a cardio circuit. The sun salutation's adaptability makes it the core of a vinyasa practice.

Cooling Breath
Shitali pranayama is like making your own air conditioning. It's an especially nice choice at the end of a sweaty practice on a hot day, but you can also do it while waiting for the bus, under a tree on your lunch break or any other time you want to cool down.
See More About:  stress management  breathing exercises 

Standing Balances
If you want to build some heat, try this sequence of standing balances, in which you do six different poses, all while standing on one leg. You will definitely feel the burn creeping up your thigh, but it's also a good exercise in focus and being able to laugh when you fall.
See More About:  balances  standing poses  yoga workouts

Pose of the Week - Lizard - Utthan Pristhasana
Lizard pose looks pretty intense in the full extension of the pose, but there are several variations that offer options for different levels of flexibility. You can always drop the back knee to the mat, a modification that I often take, especially early in a session before I'm fully warmed up. Taking blocks under your forearms is also a nice option if the floor seems a little too far away.


 


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Ann Pizer
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