Category: Asana

3 yoga poses for energy

3 Poses for POST-HOLIDAY ENERGY

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It’s back to work or school! Kick the post-holiday blues with these 3 energy-boosting poses and take care of the person who matters most to you: YOU!

 

YOGA FOR ENERGY

Need a morning boost to get you started? Or up your energy levels mid-afternoon? The answer is YOGA! Roll out your mat in the middle of the living room or in a corner of the office, and get your yoga on with this mini ENERGY sequence.

 

QUICK YOGA FLOW FOR ENERGY

Utkatasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana and Virabhadrasana 2 energize the torso, legs and back. Hello Body!
They also ground you down into the Earth and anchor you in your body and the present moment. Look no further for the perfect energy fix (and forget the coffee!)

Ready for a break? Flow from Chair pose to Downward Dog to Warrior 2, on the right, then on the left and be energized!

1. Utkatasana, Chair Pose

– Start in Mountain Pose, Tadasana, standing nice and tall, feet parallel.
– Bend your knees, as if you were going to sit on … a chair!
– Draw your tailbone towards the floor and lengthen the spine.
– Reach your arms out in front of you or above your head, as you wish.
– Breathe deeply.

Energy Flow Pose 1 : Utkatasana

 

 

2. Adho Mukha Svanasana, Downward Facing Dog

– From Utkatasana, place both hands on the floor and jump (or walk) back.
– Draw the torso backwards and raise your tailbone to the sky.
– Straighten your knees (all the way, or keeping them slightly bent).
– Draw the heels towards the floor. If they do not go all the way, that’s great, stay just where you are!
– Lengthen the arms, from the wrist to the shoulders.
– And breathe!

Go Deeper: Downward Facing Dog is such a classic yoga pose that it has its very own post! Check out all the alignment details of the pose, Downward Facing Dog’s benefits, contraindications, and great tips for a fierce Adho Mukha Svanasana!

Downward Dog Energy Yoga quick flow

Energy Flow Yoga Pose 2 : Adho Mukha Svanasana

 

 

3. Virabhadrasana 2, Warrior 2 Pose

– From Downward Facing Dog, step your right foot forward.
– Open the left foot to the left, and turn the torso to the left.
– Keep the right knee directly above your right ankle.
– Reach your arms out at shoulder height.
– Lengthen both sides of the torso.
– Turn your head to the right, and gaze at the tip of the middle finger (this is the classic Drishti) or gaze past your fingers.
– Breathe!

Yoga for energy quick flow Warrior 2

Quick Energy Yoga pose 3 : Warrior 2

 

Now complete the Energy Mini-Flow to the LEFT:
– From Warrior 2, change sides! come back to center, then do Virabhadrasana 2 on the other side.
– From Virabhadrasana 2, place your hands on the floor and step back into Downward Facing Dog.
– Then jump or walk forward, and sink your hips down into Utkatasana.
– Come back to Tadasana, Mountain Pose.
– Notice the energy pulsing through you, filing your body, mind and breath with beautiful luminous waves! You are ready to make your biggest dreams come true!

 

Go deeper with:
– The story behind Virabha, the warrior honored by Warrior 2 Pose and check out how to harness all your power in Virabhadrasana 2.

– For more flow in your life, ease into the Happiness Meditation. Tune in to your happiest holiday memories and let post-holiday stress melt away.

Wishing you joy and energy!

 

How to do crobra prose yes yoga be well

OPEN and TRANSFORM with COBRA POSE, Bhujangasana

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Are you frightened or fascinated by snakes? Uncover your inner yoga snake with Bhujangasana, Cobra Pose!
What is Cobra Pose? What are its benefits and contraindications? Tips and tricks to be the Snake Queen!

 

WHAT IS BHUJANGASANA?

Bhujangasana comes from the Sanskrit “Bhujanga”, the Snake. Bhujangasana is often referred to as Cobra Pose, because in Asia the cobra is the Snake King!

Cobra or not, the Snake is a mighty symbol: the snake in the Garden of Eden, the magic Naga in Asian mythologies, the hooded cobra protecting the Buddha in meditation, the Kundalini serpent energy that lies coiled at the base of the spine, the Rainbow Snake of Australia, Quetzalcoatl the Aztec Feathered Serpent, and many other SSSSSS.

How can you honor the various aspects of the Snake? Well, by doing Bhujangasana, Cobra Pose!

 

THE BENEFITS OF BHUJANGASANA

– Stretches the front of the body: the chest, the shoulders, the belly and the groins.
– Tones the back.
– Stimulates digestion.
– Stimulates the lungs.
– Makes you positive and happy!
– Done properly, Cobra Pose lengthens and relaxes the back.
– Opens chakras 4 and 5. Tap into the energy of the Heart (Anahata Chakra) and the Throat (Vishuddha Chakra)!

Yep, all that rolled into Cobra Pose! Let’s do this!

 

HOW TO DO COBRA POSE?

How to do Cobra Pose Bhujangasana Yes Yoga Be Well

Channel you Inner Cobra and transform with Bhujangasana!

1 – Lie belly down.

2 – Place your hands under your shoulders.

3 – Bring your elbows close to the body.

4 – Press the tops of your feet and your pubis into the floor.

5 – Press your hands down and reach your chest forward and up.

6 – Gradually straighten your arms, hug your elbows close to the body.

7 – Draw your tailbone towards your heels.

8 – Lift the sternum to lengthen the torso.

9 – Release the shoulders. Hiss! I mean … breathe!

 

 

TOP TIPS FOR BHUJANGASANA, THE COBRA

I CAN’T STRAIGHTEN MY ARMS IN COBRA!

Do not force your back into a backbend if your back is saying no!
Instead:
– Place your hands in front of you (instead of under the shoulders).
– Place your forearms on the floor, elbows bent, and do Cobra here.

 

MY BACK HURTS IN COBRA!

Try these tips to lengthen your back:
– Really draw the tailbone towards the heels. In other words: don’t stick your bum out (it compresses the lumbar spine). Imagine you are a big cat, and bring your tail forward between your legs.
– Keep your elbows bent (see the 2 modifications above).

If with these tips Cobra Pose is uncomfortable, stop and get advice from a teacher in person!

 

MY WRISTS HURT IN COBRA

Wrist strain, carpal tunnel syndrome? Try Bhujangasana with elbows on the floor.

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR COBRA POSE

Avoid Bhujangasana if:

– You are pregnant!
– You have back issues and Cobra Pose makes the pain worse.
– In case of disk degeneration.
– If you suffer from important intestinal problems.

 

I feel very SSSSnaky, do you?

Go deeper:
– Flaunt your Bhujangasana in this 7 Chakra Mini-Yoga Practice! (coming)