Journey of an Aspiring Yoga Teacher

Week 167: The Sky is Blue

10/30/2015

This week I am in Barcelona, Spain competing in Life Fitness' Global Personal Trainers to Watch competition.

Since I am in the learning phase of my yoga training, yoga is always on my brain. Being in Spain made no difference. Thus, in the wee hours of the morning, jet-legged and all, I was up writing a yoga sequence that I could do on the Life Fitness Synrgy BlueSky.

Here is what I came up with!

Monkey Bar (Long)

How about a supported upside down hand stand with out the pressure on the wrists? Hanging from the monkey bars provides an easier option to the traditional handstand. Ramp up the intensity by straightening a leg - yikes!

Dip/Leg Raise Station

Unable to get your hands back behind you and reaching your heels in camel pose? Not to worry, the Dip station has your back. Kneeling in front of the station reach back to the natural curve in the bar and proceed into your backbend.

Arc Ladder

Who doesn't love a good legs up the wall pose? Position the side of one of your hips right up to the edge of the bottom bar. Swing your feet up towards the best positioned bar for your feet to rest on. And sink into the awesomeness that gravity provides in this pose.

Traverse Bar (Long)

Nothing better than a yoga strap for support! Thread your strap through the transverse bar overhead and let it dangle down with both ends equal in length. Position yourself under the bar and move into tree pose. As you bring your bent leg higher (and become less stable), reach for the strap for support. Sometimes trees need support too!

Step Station

Many yoga poses are suitable for the step as it adds extra elevation and aid. Yet, supported shoulder stand seems to be the most obvious. In a supine position, place the feet on the step and allow the hips to rise. As the torso permits, place the hands under the low back to prop oneself onto the shoulders. For a more challenging version, the shoulder stand could also be positioned with the sacrum on the step.

Cargo Net (Long)

Any yoga pose that requires the body to be flush against an imaginary wall is perfect for the cargo net. An extended side angle or extended triangle pose are perfect for positioning against the net. Even add a stability option of holding the net with the overhead hand in the extended side angle or the top hand in the extended triangle pose. Great to keep the upper body in check and chest lifting in each of these poses.

Row Station

Garland pose can get the best of any yogalini. Why not use the side bars of the row station for support? The bars are perfectly positioned to take this deep yogic squat into an assisted position without a second thought.

Press Station

A yoga session cannot forget a downward facing dog. The handles of the press station allow for various heights off the ground to place your hands in downward facing dog. Try each position with your hands...then why not with your feet as well!

Pull-Up (Short)

Not using the pull-up station in a traditional way, yet, its two tall pillars work perfectly for assisting in a supine single leg stretch. Positioning the body so the leg that is stretching is beside the pillar, place the foot up in the air and place it on the pillar. Depending on how flexible the hamstring is, will dictate how close or far you are from the pillar.

Ab Station

Everyone likes to finish a practice with child's pose. Using the ab station, place the back of the heels under the top bracing bars, sink the hips back and fold forward onto the built in bench. Alternatively, the ending of a class would be perfect with a corpse pose with the knees bent over the top bracing bar as well.

Having a chance to "play" on a new piece of equipment is always fun for me. This event was an experience of a lifetime and my yoga teacher in training came along for the ride too!
LW

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Week 21: The Benefits of Fish

1/21/2013

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I've been eating a lot of fish lately. With the recent trip to Mexico, fresh fish was abundant and sure yummy! I've also been cooking fish often because my little one loves eating it. There are many known health benefits to eating fish but I would also argue that there are many health benefits to doing the fish pose (Matsyasana) too.

Photo credit: yogamama.co.uk

Fish pose is not a pose I am very familiar with as I've rarely done it. In a recent session in my parent's basement (with their DVD, SELF Ultimate De-Stress Yoga) it reminded me of how much I'm missing the benefits of fish pose in my practice.

Being a backbend and chest opener, it usually compliments shoulder stands (Sarvangāsana). It is considered an advanced pose due to the hyperextension of the cervical spine. It takes a fair amount of body awareness to ensure proper positioning as the body is being supported by the elbows, not the neck.

During the pose, it initially feels kinda awkward. It isn't a position our bodies are in frequently. And this is why it has such benefit! It passively stretches the chest as the scapula (shoulder blades) squeeze together. After 12 months of nursing and carrying a baby around, this lengthening of the pectorals is essential.

Once back on the ground, so to speak, I felt a release through the neck as well as the chest. This is not only beneficial for me but likely the majority of the population. This release will help facilitate better posture! Now, that is a health benefit we all need!

Interestingly, the Yoga Journal website, states that fish pose is the “destroyer of all diseases” based on traditional texts. It only makes sense, that better posture would equate to better health.

So, fish pose has now been entered into my yoga repertoire. Because I just can argue with the benefits.

Fishing for more,
LW

Although it doesn't show the actual part of the DVD with fish pose, here is a small sample of the DVD I sampled in my parents basement!

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The Journey of an Aspiring Yoga Teacher

Week 167: The Sky is Blue

Monkey Bar (Long)

Dip/Leg Raise Station

Arc Ladder

Traverse Bar (Long)

Step Station

Cargo Net (Long)

Row Station

Press Station

Pull-Up (Short)

Ab Station

Week 21: The Benefits of Fish

Aspiring Yoga Teacher

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