Former yoga teacher in Wellington New Zealand
There are several muscles you can and should be using in plank and a press-up. This example from Daily Bandha focuses on just the rectus abdominis (some of the muscles that make up your ‘abs’) and gluteus maximus (your bum) in
Last week we focused on your hands, but what about those shoulders? The strength you gain from pressing firmly into your hands on the floor should carry up to your shoulders. In plank, you should be lifting up through your
Have you noticed in class I keep saying to press in to your index finger and thumb when your hands our on the floor? In fact, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to your hands, whether you’re
The lunge is an easy pose to stretch and strengthen your legs. I’ve previously suggested variations that deepen the thigh stretch and add a twist to stretch the upper body. You can also add balance work to your lunge. Here
One of the great aspects of yoga is paying attention to how you breath and connecting your breath to movement in your body. I often give cues in class to inhale or exhale. This isn’t a cue to take the biggest breath
Plank is an essential part of every yoga class, as it’s in every sun salutation. But that’s not the only reason it’s important. It’s a great way to strengthen the arms, shoulders and upper body and believe it or not,
Balance isn’t just about standing on one leg. Often when we do chair pose, we’re so focused on how hard the big muscles in our legs (thighs and calves) are working, that we forget how much work our feet do
We do warrior 2, virabhadrasana 2, in class all the time. There are two very important alignment cues in this pose. The first one you’ll regularly hear me say – to make sure the knee is going straight ahead, not drifting
Utkatasana, or chair pose, is rarely anyone’s favourite yoga pose, but it is an excellent way to build strength in your legs. If you’ve spent much time in this pose, you’ll understand why it’s also known as powerful pose. This
One of the essential asanas or physical poses in every yoga class is down dog, or Adho Mukha Svanasana. It stretches hamstrings, calves and shoulders while also providing strength in your arms and back. Start on your hands and knees,