Pose of the Day

photo by acrojulie

#3 Garurasana - Eagle Pose

Benefits:
Improves the flexibility of the 12 major joints of the body — ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbow, and wrists

Flushes out kidneys

Brings blood to the reproductive organs

Improves sexual vitality and control

Helps prostate problems

Firms legs, arms, and abdomen

Helps tennis elbow

Relieves tension in neck and shoulders

Improves the function of the central nervous system, and the lymphatic system

Improves balance and grace of the body

This pose is a challenge for me. My shoulders are a bit tight and I can't seem to work around my biceps to have my palms touch. So I grab my fingers together and do the best I can.

Balance also comes in to play. I would have to say that at least 89% of the time I fall out of this posture due to my climpsy nature. Oh well such is life, I fall out of that too at times.

Pose of the Day

2. Ardha Chandrasana with Pada Hastasana

Half moon pose with hands to feet pose

photo by Tara's Bikram Experience

Benefits

Works into the whole skeletal and circulatory systems

Opens shoulder joints

Reduces or eliminates pain in the lower back

Good for abdominal obesity

Improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body Increase the flexibility of the spine

Increases flexibility and strength of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles

photo by dietnesstea

Alleviates anxiety and reduces mental stress

Stimulates pituitary gland

Exercises colon, pancreas, kidneys, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and glandular systems

Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs

Terilynn says:
photo by Bikram Yoga-Takoma Park
This pose is in three parts. It gives a very nice side and back stretch. This is the first "back bend" in the series and the first chance to open the heart area a bit.

I particularly enjoy the forward bend (the third part of the pose) because I am flexible and it warms me up for what's to come.

When you bend forward, you place your hands (palm side up) under your feet at your heels and stretch forward, pulling your heels as your forehead touches your shins. Nice stretch.

My biggest challenge with this poses is keeping my palms "glued" together, but I'm sure with time they will happen.

info by Quick Fit Yoga

Bend it like Bikram

Camel pose photo by Leo Castillo

I've got three days of Hot Yoga (Bikram) under my belt and it's almost like I never stopped practicing. Sort of...

My first class (on Saturday) I did forget a few poses and I forgot what my body was capable of doing within those poses. But by the time I did Sunday's class and this morning's, I was in the flow and I was at where I left off 9 months ago.

I noticed the practice seemed lighter and a bit less constricted than previous experiences. Then it dawned on my that I'm practicing in a new and lighter body. Duh, that makes all the difference in the world.

I can't wait to see where the practice takes me. I have a feeling that I will be doing this for awhile. I love the practice so much, I'm very happy it's back in my life.

I thought on my yoga days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), I would talk about well...yoga. Each session I'll discuss a different poses, it's benefits and my experience with it.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I continue to 'learn how to run' and weight training, although, I'm changing up the weight training a bit, but I'll discuss that tomorrow.

I also want to talk about the garden. We bought seeds and plants last weekend and I planted some wheatgrass. No more spending $2.50 for a shot. I'm drinking my own brew, yeah! More on the garden, later.

With the poses, I'm going to start at the beginning of the series until I cover all 26 poses, including two breathing exercises and then I'll choose a random pose in the series and discuss why I'm feeling that Pose for the Day.

Pose of the Day
1. Pranayama ( prāṇāyāma)"Standing deep breathing"

Benefits
Good for lungs and respiratory system
Helps with mental relaxation
Helps high blood pressure
Relieves irritability
Good for detoxification
Exercises nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems

photo and info by Quick Fit Yoga

Terilynn's thoughts:

This is a great breathing exercise to kick start the practice it creates heat in the belly (just in case the 95-100 degrees room wasn't enough).

You breathe in through your nose and let the breath hit the back of your throat until your inner Darth Vader invades. And the louder the better, you should hear the 'Darth Vader' sound in your throat as you inhale. It's pretty cool.

When you exhale the breath, you open your mouth and let the breath escape. I think it's called the "breath of fire." I have a image of me being Puff the Magic Dragon and spewing out fire. It's fun.

You do two sets of 10 breaths during a 90 minute class.