I have always love home practice. Studio practice is great to explore new poses but home practice is the time i develop a deeper connection to the practice, a better understanding of my body and asanas, awareness of my breathing and my mind.
me with my favorite red thin mat
many don't practice at home because they don't know where or how to start. I've always tell my yogi friends, start of by practicing surya-namaskar (sun-salutations). When you are comfortable, add in your favorite asanas (poses). Then, when you feel like more challenge, try some new asanas. If this is still not helpful enough, always feel free to ask your teacher for ideas on home practice or, simply google for ideas. Yogajournal features very interesting home practices and articles which I find it very very helpful.
Bringing Your Practice Home
Yoga Home Practice
Start your home practice today!
last evening was our fist practice on kapalbathi. As expected, they gave me a weird look :D but, they did it anyway! kapalbathi pranayama is cleansing breathing exercise. kapala means skull and bathi means shine. so, by practicing kapalbathi regularly, the face will shine with inner radiance :D
How?
- Sit in comfortable crossed leg position with the spine long, shoulder relaxed. Palms resting on knees or in chinmudra. Face relaxed.- Inhale deeply through both nostril, expanding abdomen and exhale with the forceful contraction of abdominal muscles. (Pull the abdomen in by quickly contracting the abdominal muscles and exhale through the nose). The air is pushed out of lungs by contraction of the diaphragm.
- After exhalation, inhale but inhalation should not involve any effort. To inhale, just relax and the lungs will automatically expand and filled with air.
- As a beginner, try 15 respiration or any count as long as comfortable. After completing 15 quick exhalations and natural inhalations , inhale and exhale deeply. This is one round. Practice of Kapalbhati pranayama with 3 such rounds for practice.
So the more you practice, you will have a nicer abdomen :D as it strengthen the abdominal muscles. However, one should not practice kapalbathi if suffering from heart disease, high blood, hernia and during asthma attack.
Remember, work from the abdomen not the shoulder :D Happy Practicing!
just kidding abt the "eat a cookie" part :D
i believe back in the ancient days, yogis didn't practice with foam blocks, colorful sticky mat or D-ring strap. But as time evolved, many discovered that props could help us access posture more fully.
there were only 4 of us in class this noon... and we had the opportunity to explore poses using props. it is interesting to experience how props can help us move deeper into poses. So, if you would like to try some new asanas, consider having props to help you. Apart from straps and blocks, your props can be any basic things like the wall, a table, blanket or maybe a friend. but, most importantly an open mind! Namaste.
doing a twist with the help of a chair
I would like to dedicate this post to my new yogi friend - Izso! Welcome to yoga & I really hope you would like it. One thing for sure, practice and all is coming!
"Are we supposed to eat after yoga? I'm kinda hungry". My friend worked really hard :D
Izso - grounding and empowering the base
I was in the studio waiting for the rest of the students while Beta came to me. She told me that she had just finished reading the book Eat, Pray, Love. I know neither the book nor the movie so, I asked, was it good? Part of the book describes yoga and she was amazed to know that yoga is not just about practicing asana. There are more and she seems really interested to find out the rest. I’m so glad!
Yoga is more than just on your mat. Yoga is every time, everywhere. Yoga is your breaths, thoughts, words, actions. I promised that I would share as much that I know and... that would mean I have to work even harder… that is why I always like teaching! It just keeps me going...
Waiting for studio to be opened. Picture by FD. He was saying that
the bench can't bear my weight, lol!
Yay! Classes with the ladies will begin tomorrow after a long 3 months break. Hopefully they still remember the sun salute sequence, lol! Planning to give a slow and relax class as a start. I like teaching because it motivates me to continue my practice and make them regular and... shed off those extra pounds :D
i had my first yoga lesson with the guys. i was kinda nervous as i've not yet taught a class with only men in it. my brother had requested yoga class to make them flexible. today, I've showed them yoga is more than just flexibility. it was a great experience and hope it continues :D
a picture during savasana and yes, don't ask me about the awesome yoga mat :D
