Seated Forward Bend – Paschimottanasana
May 4th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Literally translated as “intense stretch of the west,” Paschimottanasana can help a distracted mind unwind.
Benefits include:
Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
Stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings
Stimulates the liver, kidneys, ovaries, and uterus
Improves digestion
Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause and menstrual discomfort
Soothes headache and anxiety and reduces fatigue
Therapeutic for high blood pressure, infertility, insomnia, and sinusitis
Traditional texts say that Paschimottanasana increases appetite, reduces obesity, and cures diseases.
Use caution if you suffer from asthma or have a back injury.

Sit on the floor with your buttocks supported on a folded blanket and your legs straight in front of you. Press actively through your heels. Rock slightly onto your left buttock, and pull your right sitting bone away from the heel with your right hand. Repeat on the other side.
Turn the top thighs in slightly and press them down into the floor. Press through your palms or finger tips on the floor beside your hips and lift the top of the sternum toward the ceiling as the top thighs descend.
Draw the inner groins deep into the pelvis. Inhale, and keeping the front torso long, lean forward from the hip joints, not the waist. Lengthen the tailbone away from the back of your pelvis. If possible take the sides of the feet with your hands, thumbs on the soles, elbows fully extended; if this isn’t possible, loop a strap around the foot soles, and hold the strap firmly. Be sure your elbows are straight, not bent.
When you are ready to go further, don’t forcefully pull yourself into the forward bend, whether your hands are on the feet or holding the strap. Always lengthen the front torso into the pose, keeping your head raised.
If you are holding the feet, bend the elbows out to the sides and lift them away from the floor; if holding the strap, lighten your grip and walk the hands forward, keeping the arms long. The lower belly should touch the thighs first, then the upper belly, then the ribs, and the head last.
With each inhalation, lift and lengthen the front torso just slightly; with each exhalation release a little more fully into the forward bend. In this way the torso oscillates and lengthens almost imperceptibly with the breath. Eventually you may be able to stretch the arms out beyond the feet on the floor.
Stay in the pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. To come up, first lift the torso away from the thighs and straighten the elbows again if they are bent. Then inhale and lift the torso up by pulling the tailbone down and into the pelvis.
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Yoga Clothes - choose with care
May 4th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
In choosing the perfect yoga clothes, a prime requirement is that they allow you to move, and don’t restrict your movement or breathing.
The best yoga clothes are those that allow you to freely move and prevent instances of distraction and disturbance when you are having your practice. They need to feel good on your skin so that you will be free from irritation.
During a heavy practice, it is expected that you will sweat, so wear absorbent clothing which breathes. Cotton is a great choice.
In practicing yoga, there is no requirement in choosing your clothes. If you want to show off some skin, it’s up to you.
Here are the common things you need when looking for in yoga clothing.
Yoga Tops - first thing you should consider in choosing a yoga top is that it should not fall in your face. Tops are designed to let you move freely and not be distracted when doing the exercise. If you are going to wear tee shirts, it should not be that long and should not cover the lower part of your body.
This is important in checking the alignment of your lower body because you can see whether your knees and ankles are aligned properly. Most women wear sports bras so that in doing some movements, they are sure that it holds them securely and prevent chances of falling out when stretching.
Yoga Pants - The length of the pants is one of the things to consider. Some pants are long that it reaches your ankles. If this is not comfortable to you, you should wear pants that are below your knees. This allows you to move freely.
Yoga Shorts - this is a good choice if you are practicing hot yoga or known as the Bikram Yoga. This type of yoga is done in a room at a high temperature. Wearing shorts will let go of the heat inside your body.
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Asana of the Week - Extended Triangle Pose
April 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Benefits include:
• Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles
• Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
• Stimulates the abdominal organs
• Helps relieve stress
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Relieves backache, especially through second trimester of pregnancy
• Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica
Use caution if you suffer from low blood pressure, have a heart condition, or have neck problems.
Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides. Separate the feet slightly further than shoulder distance apart. Inhale and raise both arms straight out from the shoulders parallel to the floor with the palms facing down.
Exhale slowly while turning the torso to the left, bend at the waist and bring the right hand down to the left ankle. The palm of the right hand is placed along the outside of the left ankle. The left arm should be extended upward. Both legs and arms are kept straight without bending the knees and elbows.
Turn the head upward to the left and gaze up at the fingertips of the left hand. Inhale and return to a standing position with the arms outstretched. Hold this position for the duration of the exhaled breath. Exhale and repeat on the opposite side.
The triangle pose is basically doing slow toe touches while concentrating on your breathing and stretching your body.
Yoga Sandals: 
