Welcome to Yogi Sticks!

Do you know your Gomukasana from your Adho Mukha Svanasana? Is your Vrksasana all it can be? And how do you feel about Supta Baddha Konasana? Do you know what I'm even talking about?

Sometimes the Sanskrit - however beautiful it sounds - is not very helpful. So, to encourage my students to expand their yoga practice into their home, I sketch the poses we practice during class on a chart and add the Sanskrit and common name. Hopefully, this is a useful tool to help them along in their yogic journey. I also troll the internet, books, and journals to find interesting articles about yoga and the yogic lifestyle.

4-5-10 Twists


As I said at the beginnning of practice, we were going to channel Chuck Berry and do some twistin'!


In yoga, twists are especially beneficial for "releasing tension in your spine, breaking open the outer bindings of your hips, and squeezing and releasing the sponge of your body. Twists allow you to be soft, fluid, and organic in your body movements. When you use force in a twist, it reveals how your mind if often directed and determined, reminding you to lead more from your center (your belly) and simply observe with your mind," says Rodney Yee in his book, Yoga: The Poetry of the Body. He goes on to remind us to ask the following questions: "Am I holding my breath? Am I leading with my head? Is the spiral of my body even from feet to crown of head? Do my heart and my lungs feel supported and opened?" By the way, this book is available to check out at the studio!


Quote for practice: "The intention of the effort is far more important than the effort's outcome" - Aadil Pahlkivala


True in life...and especially true on your yoga mat!

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