#yogadowel

DETAIL + DEPTH | Next we prep the legs and add the twist. This sequence starts with a low lunge with the front foot on a block, and a long strap around the front shin and back foot. The block will elevate the pose in general, but in particular, remind the back thigh to lift (which tends to drop in the peak pose, Parivrtta Parsvakonasana). The strap will encourage the shin to stay forward over the ankle as well as power and strengthen the back leg. (Slide 5... Yes, start at the end and swipe right this time!)⁣ ⁣ With an inhale, lift the arms for Crescent Lunge. This pose gives the body an opportunity to feel the thigh stretch of the back leg. (Slide 4)⁣ ⁣ With an exhale, lean forward over the front thigh. Without the help of the hands and only using the feeling sense of the body, keep the spine in line with the back leg as if still in Tadasana. Breathe here. (Slide 3)⁣ ⁣ With the next exhale, turn toward the front leg, THEN bring the elbow to the outer leg. This will allow the body to find the initial twist of the spine without the use of the arms. Then, take the second hand onto the front thigh to help lift the chest of the same side. (Slide 2)⁣ ⁣ Bring the hands together, using that point of contact to widen the chest and collarbones. Reach from back heel to crown of head. Stay and breathe. (Slide 1)⁣ ⁣ © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #yogadowel #yogablocks #yogaprops #propyourpose #yogapractice#yogaeverydamnday#practiceandalliscoming #iyengaryoga #parivrttaparsavakonasana #lungepose #revolvedsideangle #yogaforeverybody⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ (at Eagle Rock, Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1joKugXtq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ro70h3zie1sq

DETAIL + DEPTH | In elementary school, we would designate Thursdays as "opposite day." Everything we said that day had the opposite meaning, so we would have to say the opposite of what we actually meant. Sometimes we would forget it was opposite day, and had great fun imagining the inverse to be true. Looking back, this is an amazing exercise for the brain, and another reminder that learning can be fun and unintentional. ⁣ ⁣ This pose is an embodied version of Opposite Day. It is using the strength of the backbody to expand the front body. In this week's D+D peak pose, Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, we use the arms to open the chest and collarbones. But because Parivrtta Parsvakonasana is such a deep twist, the back of the lower shoulder and arm must strongly push against the front knee to both encourage the twist and open the lower chest. While the top arm reaches forward over the ear in the full pose, we often bring the arm up into a similar T-shape, before bringing it forward. (Admittedly, there are many ways to bring the top arm into its final position.) This “Back Hug” acts as preparation for each side to press into the front leg, as well as that blip of time in which the arms transition to the full pose.⁣ ⁣ To take the pose, sit on the heels with the toes as close to the wall as possible. Place a foam block against the back of one hand when the arm is abducted, shoulder height. Hold another block against the wall, also at arm-length, shoulder-height, and continue to press it into the wall as the back of the second hand crawls its way to the top of the block. Open the hands and stretch from upper sternum to fingers. While this same pose can be taken without blocks with the entire backside against a wall (try it, also valuable!) making the hands the only points of contact against support means there is more freedom to play with how protracting vs retracting the shoulderblades affects the breadth of the chest. Expand, stay and breathe.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #yogadowel #yogablocks #yogaprops #propyourpose (at Eagle Rock) https://www.instagram.com/p/BowbkMUg2X4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12hf7ct207f5q

DETAIL + DEPTH | In elementary school, we would designate Thursdays as "opposite day." Everything we said that day had the opposite meaning, so we would have to say the opposite of what we actually meant. Sometimes we would forget it was opposite day, and had great fun imagining the inverse to be true. Looking back, this is an amazing exercise for the brain, and another reminder that learning can be fun and unintentional. ⁣ ⁣ This pose is an embodied version of Opposite Day. It is using the strength of the backbody to expand the front body. In this week's D+D peak pose, Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, we use the arms to open the chest and collarbones. But because Parivrtta Parsvakonasana is such a deep twist, the back of the lower shoulder and arm must strongly push against the front knee to both encourage the twist and open the lower chest. While the top arm reaches forward over the ear in the full pose, we often bring the arm up into a similar T-shape, before bringing it forward. (Admittedly, there are many ways to bring the top arm into its final position.) This “Back Hug” acts as preparation for each side to press into the front leg, as well as that blip of time in which the arms transition to the full pose.⁣ ⁣ To take the pose, sit on the heels with the toes as close to the wall as possible. Place a foam block against the back of one hand when the arm is abducted, shoulder height. Hold another block against the wall, also at arm-length, shoulder-height, and continue to press it into the wall as the back of the second hand crawls its way to the top of the block. Open the hands and stretch from upper sternum to fingers. While this same pose can be taken without blocks with the entire backside against a wall (try it, also valuable!) making the hands the only points of contact against support means there is more freedom to play with how protracting vs retracting the shoulderblades affects the breadth of the chest. Expand, stay and breathe.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #yogadowel #yogablocks #yogaprops #propyourpose (at Eagle Rock) https://www.instagram.com/p/BowbkMUg2X4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12hf7ct207f5q

DETAIL + DEPTH | Creating Resistance . If you’re without resistance bands used in the previous post, try taking a long strap and dowel to create this pulley-like system. This exercise connects lower and upper body for whole body connection, and depending on which action is emphasized, simultaneously stretches and strengthens the triceps. . With the loop around the foot and hands holding the dowel behind the upper back, step down into the strap to stretch the triceps. Resist backbending by isometrically kicking the standing foot forward, engaging the lower abdomen, and hugging the front ribs in. Maintain resistance, then try to straighten the arms to strengthen the triceps. Squeeze the elbows in so they stay upright. Lift the chest, stay and breathe. . © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli . . . . #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #practiceandalliscoming #iyengar #sequencing #iyengaryoga #gomukhasana #cowfacepose #resistancebands #triceps #yogadowel (at Newport Back Bay)

DETAIL + DEPTH | Calf Smash with a Dowel . Release release release. My mantra for 2018. Start with the calves and a dowel to roll out the pain, discomfort, tension, injury, dis-ease, stagnation, sadness, grief, anger, jealousy, stress, loneliness, overwhelm, the broken heart, the neglected heart, helplessness, self-doubt, guilt, stinginess, tightness, and all the emotional, spiritual, and psychological turmoil that manifests in the physical body - past, present, and future. Your body is a roadmap into your psyche. Even if you haven't learned to read it, trust that the work you do on the physical level will touch and alter your breath, prana, thoughts, emotions, intellect, and heart. Stay and breathe. . © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli . . . . #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #yogaprop #yogadowel #fascialrelease #practiceandalliscoming #iyengar #sequencing #iyengaryoga #gomukhasana #cowfacepose #calfsmash #lojong (at Upper Newport Bay)

DETAIL + DEPTH | Similar but different. Instead of using the wall as with the last post, take the same sequence with a chair. ⁣ ⁣ Start seated facing the side of the chair with the legs together. Lengthen the spine, then turn toward the back of the chair. Take the lower hand to the chair leg, and the top hand to the top bar of the chair. Use the lower arm against the leg to turn, and gently pull up on the chair leg to lift the chest. Push the top hand down into the bar of the chair to absorb the top ribs and lengthen the lower side body. Stay and breathe. ⁣ ⁣ Next, take the same pose asymmetrically with one leg forward and one leg back. Use the same principles as the previous pose, and use the force and strength of the back leg to propel the chest forward. Stay and breathe, then switch sides.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #yogadowel #yogablocks #yogaprops #chairyoga #yogachair #propyourpose #yogapractice#yogaeverydamnday#practiceandalliscoming #iyengaryoga #parivrttaparsavakonasana #revolvedsideangle #pasasana #yogaforeverybody⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ (at Highland Park, Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo9OSS8gKYx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fi0ocrma76as

DETAIL + DEPTH | There are all different reasons we cannot feel our own bodies, know what it is they are doing, and how to control our movements as to minimize injury and maximize freedom. Thankfully there are tools to help us see and feel what is actually happening.⁣ ⁣ This setup uses a strap and dowel along the back spine. The strap around the ribcage simply holds the dowel in place, but also provides feedback on how the breath moves the ribcage, as well as the depth and fullness of the breath. The dowel acts as an exterior indicator from which we aim to turn in a spinal twist. In the peak pose Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, we use the help of the arms (and legs) to turn the upper body away from the lower body, as if revolving the ribcage around the spine. Of course, the ribcage is fixed to the spine, but to a certain degree, can reflect what is happening along the spine.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ To take this pose, stand in Tadasana with either the feet together, or hip-width apart. Breathe into the dowel to awaken the spine, keeping the body aware of this central axis from which we can move. Close the eyes and see if it can increase awareness of the spine, in its infinitely divisible parts as well as a cohesive whole. Stay and breathe.⁣ ⁣⁣ © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #yogadowel #yogaprops #propyourpose #yogapractice#yogaeverydamnday#practiceandalliscoming #iyengaryoga #parivrttaparsavakonasana #revolvedsideangle #tadasana #mountainpose #yogaforeverybody⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ (at Eagle Rock, Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bot1SGEgnf0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cycvia3naoh6

DETAIL + DEPTH | Lifting Weights 🏋️‍♀️ . Is this even yoga? . A dowel and a sandbag equals a yogi barbell. A real barbell could work just fine too. . This triceps strengthener is hard, but it's a great prep for Gomukhasana. Stay and breathe. . © 2018 Ellen Huang Saltarelli . . . . #detailanddepth #alignmentyoga#yogaalignment #Yoga #practiceandalliscoming #iyengar #sequencing #iyengaryoga #gomukhasana #cowfacepose #resistancebands #triceps #yogadowel #yogasandbag (at Newport Beach, California)