Quick Tips
Only have a few minutes? Try these tips and tricks to take your practice to the next level.
VINYASA OPTIONS
Guess what Yogi’s? You always have a choice when it comes to your style of vinyasa! There are several ways to do a ‘vinyasa’. Vinyasa is a style of yoga, it is also the word most often used to describe the flow of plank pose to chaturanga to up dog and finally to down dog. Teachers often say “take a vinyasa”. This short video gives you a few vinyasa options so you can pick the variation that feels right for you on any given day.
10 MINUTE SHOULDER OPENING YOGA FLOW
When your shoulders feel extra tight and overworked, come to this quick practice to make space and give them some yummy, well-deserved minutes of love and attention. This quick 10 minute shoulder opening yoga flow will release tightness that may help reduce back and neck pain and ease headaches. The sequence will encourage your shoulders to drop away from your ears, your chest to open, and your breath to deepen.
PROPER SHOULDER ALIGNMENT IN YOGA
Hearing anatomical terminology like "internal" and "external" rotation can feel daunting to a new and even experienced yoga practitioner. In this quick tip, Jamie describes the different rotations of the shoulder socket, the movement of the shoulder blades in conjunction with the arms and how this crucial information can help keep your shoulders and surrounding joints safe while you practice yoga. This quick tip will help you properly align your shoulders, specifically in downward facing dog and anytime the arms are alongside the ears.
HOW TO ALIGN YOUR HIPS IN YOGA AND WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT
Something we often hear in yoga is "square off your hips" or "find neutral hips." We are typically asked to do this in standing poses like crescent, warrior one and standing splits. In this quick tip, Jamie breaks down the different anatomical movements of the pelvis to help you better understand how to find a more neutral (square) pelvis in standing postures. It might not seem like it does much besides adding to your discomfort in a pose, but aligning your hips works wonders in increasing balance, muscle engagement and much more.
ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING
Analoma Viloma, in Sanskrit, meaning Alternate Nostril Breathing, is an Ancient Yoga breathing technique that helps to balance out our breath, the brain, and is useful for reducing stress. This breathing exercise is great for calming and for energizing your mind and body. By choosing which nostril you use to inhale, you can make yourself either more relaxed (left nostril) or more energized (right nostril). Alternate nostril breathing is about bringing these two opposites into balance. By slowly and consciously breathing through each nostril for an equal amount of time, we make sure to stimulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in equal amounts. Analoma Viloma can be done at any time of day, can be practiced for any reason, and is very helpful before and after moments of anxiety.
YOGA RECESS FOR PARENTS IN DISTANCE LEARNING
Recess for adults? Yes, please! The transition to distance learning can be challenging for children AND parents! Parents not only need to think differently about how to support their children, but also how to support themselves in the process. This is a quick 15-minute YOGA RECESS FOR PARENTS to stretch all the tense areas in the body, specifically the areas that block you from taking a deep breath. You can do this routine while your little one is at recess or after virtual schooling to decompress. Enjoy side body stretches, spine lengthening and shoulder stretching as you ease your body into taking deep de-stressing breaths.
ROOM TO BREATHE: A SEATED YOGA PRACTICE
A little something we all need a little more of… Room To Breathe. This is a quick class to remind you how to take a deep breath. This is a seated yoga practice so can be done at your desk in the middle of your work day or at home after a long busy day. Props: 1 Strap or equivalent
MEDITATION FOR DEEP SLEEP
Slow down and connect with your breath in this short meditation to help you fall asleep or get back to sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night. This meditation technique will help calm your mind and prepare for a deep sleep. This meditation technique can calm your body and mind in moments of stress and anxiety. Enjoy.
USING THE WALL TO IMPROVE YOUR PRACTICE
Whether you need some extra support during a challenging pose, or you want a prop to help you deepen a pose and open up during your practice, there’s one handy yoga prop that everyone has on hand, which often goes unnoticed…I’m talking of course about…the wall! A simple wall can be a yogi’s best friend, providing support, a balancing tool, or stretching assistance.
WARRIOR II ALIGNMENT
Warrior II is a vigorous and energizing pose for the legs, but many practitioners adopt too short a stance to take advantage of the pose’s inherent intensity. Despite its popularity, we often miss out on much of warrior II’s depth and potential. In this video, Wendy will walk you through the proper alignment of Warrior II to maximize it's benefits.
BUILDING STRENGTH FOR YOUR VINYASA
Misaligned vinyasa can lead to shoulder strain and rotator cuff injuries as well as neck pain and low back pain. It can also cause repetitive motion injuries, such as rotator cuff, shoulder and wrist injuries. This quick tip will help you engage, and properly recruit, all the muscles you need to correctly move through your vinyasa without causing injuries.
20 MINUTE CHAIR PRACTICE FOR SPINE, HIP AND SHOULDER MOBILITY
Did you know you can use a chair to increase spine, hip and shoulder mobility? Check out this 20 minute chair sequence designed by Wendy G. to help strengthen the muscles needed for your yoga practice.