While Lotus Pose lends itself to an iconic yoga-style picture, it has never been part of my practice. I've been mindful of my knees since high school sports and purposely haven't forced my body into unnecessary shapes. That being said, I've included hip-openers that I do use in my practice. Cradle-The-Baby, Thread-The-Needle, and Pigeon Prep. ... As for tips, I'll let one of the greats, Annie Carpenter, lead you through it courtesy of Yoga Journal. Do keep in mind that you'll want to be warm moving into this pose. Warrior 2, Side Angle, and Triangle will get you moving in the right direction. ... "Bend your right knee, then rotate it outward from the hip. Roll your left thigh open and, while supporting your right ankle with your hands, begin to draw your right ankle into your groin. Keep your left leg rotated open and bend your left knee, bringing your heel in toward your navel. Slide your hands under your left ankle and lift the ankle just high enough so you can slide it up and over your right leg, and snuggle the heel in tight. Press both heels into your belly and create the action of bringing your knees closer to each other. Press the outer edges of your feet down onto your thighs, lifting the outer ankles and eliminating pressure between the shins." ... It has been my pleasure supporting @heidischweigert and providing tips for poses featured in her 2018 Peace, Love & Yoga Calendar. She has created a new one for 2019 and it is beautiful. May your year end on a high note and you feel blessed throughout 2019. 💛✨ . . . . #justbebalanced #yoga #yogaflow #yogateacher #mindfulness #mindfulmaster #selfcare #selfcarecoach
December has come so quickly this year and with it we get Lotus pose to inspire us. For me this pose is about letting go of expectations and simply loving my body where it’s at. I think I’ll be using this mindset for life during the hustle and bustle of the next few weeks—no expectations and delighting in the present. Join me if that feels good to you. 💛 . . . . #justbebalanced #yoga #yogaflow #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #yogajourney #yogalife #yogafun #yogapose #yogaforlife #yogalover #mindfulness #purposeful #mindtool #mindfulmaster # mindfulliving #intention #goals #mentalhealth @heidischweigert
Legs Up The Wall is as easy as it gets. This is a passive inversion that calms the nervous system with focused breathing. It improves circulation and immunity by reversing blood and lymph flow in the body. I personally use it to refresh my lower half after a heavy leg day. Variations include boosting your hips on a block, letting your legs go wide into a V shape, or finding butterfly legs. Skip this if you are protecting your neck or have serious eye issues. Relax and enjoy. ✨ . . . . #yoga #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #yogajourney #yogalife #yogapose #yogaforlife #yogalover #mindfulness #mindfulmaster #justbebalanced #bodyandmind #mindbody #balancedlife #healthyhabits #legsupthewall
Ahhh, it’s November, my friends. Time to get cozy, hang with loved ones, and start to decompress from this eventful year. No better way than to throw your legs up the wall and unwind. Thanks @heidischweigert for the reminder! Simple tips to come. Sip in some slow, deep breaths in the meantime. ✨ . . . . #yoga #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #yogapose #mindfulness #purposeful #mentalhealth #selfcare #selfcaretime #selfcarecoach #balance #justbebalanced #bodyandmind #balancedlife #healthyhabits
I've got two variations of Twisted Pigeon for you. ☺️ --- The first one is upright. From Down Dog, pull your right knee to the outside of your right wrist. Then there are two main components here. First, you want to keep your foundation set so you don't dump all your body weight into your front knee--yuck. Do this by grounding down into both knees and hugging them together. This will distribute your weight between both legs. If this is still too much pressure for the front knee, this variation isn't for you. The second major component is core strength. Walk your hands as close to your hips as possible. Maybe they stay on the ground, or while hugging those knees together you place your left hand on your right thigh and right hand on your hip or left thigh. ---- The second Twisted Pigeon is on the floor. Notice my left knee is leading. Remember to find action in your foundation to keep your front knee happy. Then thread your right arm underneath your left, resting your right shoulder and temple on the ground. Your left hand can rest in front of your face, reach to the top of your mat, or gently wrap behind your back. In both poses, enjoy 6-10 smooth breaths. ✨ ---- . . . . #yoga #yogaflow #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #yogalife #yogafun #yogapose #yogaforlife #yogafitness #yogalover #balance #justbebalanced #bodymindsoul #mindbody #balancedlife #pigeonpose @heidischweigert
Let's get twisted! October features this lovely illustration of Twisted Pigeon. My cycle-yogis got a little hip and spine love in this pose today. Keep an eye out for my tips on the pose to follow. xx --- In case you didn’t know... @heidischweigert has created another beautiful yoga calendar for 2019 as well. You can grab the link from her bio. 🙌🏻 . . . . #yoga #yogateacher #yogaeveryday #yogajourney #yogalife #yogafun #yogapose #yogaforlife #yogalover #justbebalanced #bodymindsoul #mindbody #balancedlife #pigeonpose
 

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