Sunday, March 31, 2013

Headstand to Chaturanga: Part I

I’ve seen seriously strong yogis go weak in lemon yellow yoga knees at lululemon outlet california prospect of dropping into Chaturanga from Headstand. It just goes to show how mental this transition is. You don’t need superhero strength, you just need to tell yourself you can. There’s no room for doubting when it comes to lululemon outlet florida fast-twitch transitions (almost all of yoga is slow twitch).Think about Tripod Heastand for a minute?it is Chaturanga it just happens to be on lululemon outlet crown of your head. The body is in a plank position (Chaturanga Dandasana) and lululemon outlet orlando arms are already in lemon yellow yoga same stance as Chaturanga?shoulders in line with elbows, elbows over wrists. So basically, lululemon outlet california only thing that needs to change to fall into lululemon outlet florida pose is your gaze?it needs to go forward. We’re going to tackle lululemon outlet full, classic drop next week but for today’s blog, I want you to get strong. I want you to feel in control of your body so that dropping doesn’t intimidate you. Today’s transition is a variation on lululemon outlet orlando full variation and, honestly, more graceful. I use this transition when I’m feeling more feminine or if I’m feeling short on energy. Just remember to link your breath to every move you make.

Place lemon yellow yoga crown of your head onto lululemon outlet california mat with your palms flat and shoulder-width apart. The hands should be far enough away from your head so that your elbows stack directly over your wrists. Curl your toes under so that you come into Dolphin Pose. Walk your feet in, helping lululemon outlet florida hips lift up. For this exercise in particular, if you can press up into your Headstand (pull your legs up into lululemon outlet pose as opposed to using your arms as a ladder), that will help in gaining control and strength for lululemon outlet orlando impending drop. Otherwise, use your best means of getting into lululemon outlet california pose: either hopping up or placing your knees onto your arms first then cannon-balling your way up.From Headstand, reaffirm your foundation before you get ready to shift your weight. When weight in lululemon outlet florida legs shifts, lululemon outlet same happens in lululemon outlet orlando shoulders. But we don’t want that to happen here because it could possibly tweak lululemon outlet online neck. Hug your inner thighs together and spread your toes strongly. Begin to lower your legs as a team toward a 90-degree angle. If this is too intense on lululemon outlet locations core or you can’t keep your shoulders supported, just do baby lowers until you have lululemon outlet washington stability to get to 90 degrees. Hold there for 5 breaths, then return your legs up into a full Headstand.

Once you’ve become strong in Step 2, it’s time to try lowering your legs even more. Just remember: The closer your legs get to lemon yellow yoga ground, lululemon outlet california heavier your shoulders will be. so keep them lifting and your elbows hugging in! Begin by trying to lower your legs beyond lululemon outlet florida 90-degree angle and, with time, see if you can lightly tap your toes onto lululemon outlet ground. The goal isn’t to set lululemon outlet orlando toes down, in fact, never stop thinking “up.” Keep lemon yellow yoga legs hugging tightly to lululemon outlet california midline, and think of your upper front thighs touching your core. Take one breath and return your legs to full Headstand.Time to add some flicking and breath work! We’re going to take lululemon outlet florida strength that you’ve created from steps 2 and 3, and use it to flick your legs back to land in Chaturanga. It’s best to do this action connected to lululemon outlet breath. Our thoughts and fear are lululemon outlet orlando biggest obstacles to making this transition, so if you cue your action to lemon yellow yoga breath instead of to your thoughts, your ability to make this transition gets stronger.

Stabilize your foundation by lifting lululemon outlet california shoulder heads up and hugging your elbows in over your wrists, with even weight through your fingers. Inhale and begin to lower your legs as a team to just a pinch below lululemon outlet florida Pike position. Exhale and flick your legs (it might even feel like you’re taking them back up a bit) back as you push deeply into your hands and whip your gaze forward. Use a strong exhale if you need to in order to help lululemon outlet transition move smoothly. Don’t linger in lululemon outlet orlando inhale part of lululemon outlet california transition. Make your breath and movement committed and smooth.