Author: Russtarr

My Maui Yoga highlights the Yoga posture known in sanskrit as Hasta Pada Prasarita Padmottanasana, also known as hand to foot wide legged forward fold pose, is an effective asana or Yoga posture for stretching the back of the legs, strengthening the quadriceps or front of the legs, calming down the central nervous system and energizing the body.  This posture can be done by all levels.  If you need to modify this posture because you have tight hamstrings then please bend the knees a little bit to ease the back of the legs.  As you root the feet down, also pull up with the hands creating a bhanda or locking system that will enable a stretch in the shoulders. Breathe deeply and relax the face. You want to begin with five deep breaths.  The longer you hold the posture the greater the benefits become.  While holding Yoga poses sometimes our minds can begin to wander.  This is when we bring it back to the breath and focus on breathing deeply in the Yoga pose and where you are feeling the posture in the body.  At this point in the posture you become an observer to the body and how the Yoga posture is affecting you.  Come out of the pose slowly and take a couple of deep breaths before transitioning into the next pose or moving on with your day. This Yoga posture is wonderful for those wishing to add flexibility to the legs and back.  It is also a great posture to do on a daily basis to keep the spine and legs limber and to keep the central nervous system in check. Enhance your practice with a Private Yoga Class on Maui.

🤗#yoga #mauiyoga #maui #to #grandcanyon #healthy #fitness #staylimber

There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. ~ Booker T. Washington … It’s all about how we use our energy. 😉

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” ~Christopher Reeve

Eka Pada Adho Muhka Svanasana. One Legged Downward Facing Dog Pose! This is a fabulous way to build core stability while strengthening the legs and arms. Reach through the extended leg and energize through the thighs and arms.

Lift the rib cage in and up while extending from the tail to the head. You can enhance the stretch of the extended leg by lifting the leg higher then releasing it back down and repeating. Get out in nature and it makes the pose even more enlivening! Happy practice 🤗.
#maui #iaovalley #downwarddog #ekapada #fitness #gratitude #lovelife #yogaforall #hips

Private Yoga Classes on Maui

In a lot of Yoga asanas or postures, we can feel like we are limited within our bodies. This is the moment in the practice when we begin to grow and deepen the asana, letting go of our limits and experiencing enhancement. So, always take the frustration out of this moment and practice gratitude for the experience and insight. The goal within the practice is to find the edge of the posture and to be there for a moment.  Within this edge, the strength and flexibility is increased. There is a fine line between finding the edge of the posture and injuring yourself.  Finding the edge is a space in which you feel that your body is at it’s limit within protective confines.  So, in other words, you feel safe and steady but you feel as if you are stretching and/or strengthening. If you feel unsteady or unsafe immediately come out of the pose and set yourself up properly to try again.  Never push beyond your bodies limits as this is when injury occurs.  Private Yoga Classes on Maui can help you gain a better awareness with where the body should be in space in relationship to the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. In Private Yoga Classes on Maui, the alignment, benefits and contraindications are highlighted and broken down to the desired practice. 

Every limit is a beginning as well as an ending. ~ George Eliot

#yoga #mauiyoga #mymauiyoga #maui #sunsetyoga #gratitude #🤗#fitness #keepitreal

Strengthen

Yoga inversions are a great way to strengthen the core, circulate the blood, stimulate the organs, calm the central nervous system, ease back pain and improve posture. Take a moment, at least ten seconds to get upside down.   When we perform our inversions in which our hands act as a base, we want to ensure that the hand is rooted down through the index finger and the thumb with the middle finger slightly pointing to the outside or straight ahead.  The fingers should be separated like a sea star.  An all levels Yoga inversion is Downward Facing Dog Pose or Adho Muhka Svanasana.  To perform this Yoga posture place your knees under your hips and your hands under your shoulders mimicking a table.  Then, walk your hands two to four inches forward, strengthen in the upper arms, draw the navel back and up and lift the hips toward the sky.  Let the heels drop gently and strengthen the frontal thighs in and up to support the release of the hamstrings.  Continue strengthening through the arms as you energetically push the hips up and back.  Bend the knees slightly if you experience tight hamstrings.  Let the head fall gently and release the spine.  Breathe deeply into the posture observing the body and breath.

Short version  on Head Stand : In Adho Muhka Vrksasana ensure that the navel is drawn back and up and that the ribs are lifted in. Lengthen from the tailbone while energizing through the arms and the legs. The hands should be aligned directly under the shoulders. Take flight and enhance your day!!!

What if I fall? Oh, but darling, what if you fly? ~ E.H. .