Flexibility and strength go hand in hand

I have always given great importance to strengthening in my yoga classes.  Strengthening not only empowers you, but will bring you more focus, centerdness, stability.  It was enable you to stretch more deeply and safely.  

(I give particular attention to hamstrings because they are an area in the body that is particularly tight for many of us.  Tight hamstrings can contribute to lower back, hip, and knee problems. They can prevent you from having that tall, strong and healthy spine that is so essential.)

At the beginning of a practice focused on the hamstrings, certain poses are used to strengthen the quads for the following reason.  If you engage your quads while stretching your hamstrings,  you will be able to get a deeper stretch in your hamstrings.  For this reason, when moving into a forward fold, I will sometimes use the following cues: ”Strong legs.” “Internally rotate your thighs.” “Root down into the earth.”

When we do a forward fold, the quads are the antagonist of the hamstrings. (The hamstrings are the agonist: they initiate the action.)  When we engage the quads  in a forward fold, we are in fact, helping our body get a deeper and safer stretch into the hamstrings. It’s the physiological Yin/Yang. Furthermore, working with both muscles helps to create balance. stability and ultimately, better alignment.

Secondly,  certain poses are selected to strengthen and to stretch the hamstrings themselves.  Doing Sun Salutations and classic poses that both  strengthen and stretch is so beneficial.  One reinforces the other. Some of the poses are:  Warrior 2, Triangle, Side Angle,  Runner’s Lunge, Wide-Legged Forward Fold.

Thirdly, certain poses will simply give your hamstrings a good stretch.  Poses such as  Leg Raises, Leg Raise/Twist, Runner’s Stretch, and Head to Toe, are  excellent.

As the days get shorter, and there is less sunshine, we need inner strength.   We don’t have as much energy from the sun.  We need to draw our energy from within.

Strengthening will help you draw everything toward your center; it will help to keep you mind focused on your body; it will help draw attention inward where you find inner strength and stability.

Strong body=strong mind.  They are inseparable.

Have a great day!

Your Monday Morning DOWNdog Yoga POST!

Good morning dear students,
Our focus for the last four classes and remaining four posts will be on Sun Salutations, Surya Namaskars.

This week I will talk about mindfulness.  In the final three weeks, I will explore balance, extension, and relaxation.

BEING mindful when I practice yoga has been the most important key to discovering just how much yoga can be beneficial:  among the many benefits, it has brought more mindfulness into my daily life.

INHALE.  EXHALE.

When I do Sun Salutations, I am mindful of the breath, of the energy, (prana) that I am drawing from the earth and that is expanding from my core throughout my body, “into every pore,” (Iyengar)  as I inhale.   I am aware of the beautiful sensation of letting go, releasing, the “Ahhhh” as I exhale.

INHALE.  EXHALE.

The two most important words in the yoga philosophy.  Staying connected to the breath,  I am mindful of what I am doing with my body. During Sun Salutations, as I come into a low lunge, I am aware of my arms coming up in synchrony, together, parallel, as I keep my centre, evenly drawing up energy from my toes, the pads of my front foot, my knee and the top of my back foot.   I am aware of my arms going up together, reaching up evenly towards the sky as I remain and feel rooted into the earth.

INHALE, EXHALE

As I try to find and maintain balance, stability, I am mindful or aware of differences between the right side and the left side of my body.  My mindfulness is allowing me to learn about my body and discover my strengths and recognize my limitations.  I am listening to what my body is telling me.  My mind becomes quiet.  My body is speaking.  I need to give it all my attention.  My body is very intelligent:  it has a wealth of knowledge to impart.

In sum, bringing the mindfulness you  experience on your mat into your daily life, is one of the most important benefits that yoga can offer you.

I look forward, as always,  to our practice.

Namaste!
Jocelyne

Please note: There are no drop-in spaces available at this time.  If you would like to know if a drop-in space becomes available, please send me an email.  Thank you.