You’ve practiced with them on YogaGlo. You’ve followed them on Facebook. You might even take their classes in person once in awhile if they travel to or live in your city. But how well do you know our YogaGlo teachers? We’ve created a new series, Ask a Yogi, so you can learn more about them by asking questions you’ve always wanted to ask.
From favorite poses and tips for beginners to deeper questions about how their practice has changed their worldview, our teachers will collectively answer a new question each week. If you have a question you’d like to “Ask a Yogi” let us know in the comments or email us at hello@yogaglo.com and we’ll add your questions to the list. Today’s Ask a Yogi question is:
Kathryn Budig: “I practice either the asthanga first series or do my own mini practice at home when I don’t have much time. As long as I get my sun salutes, some solid standing poses, a few twists, handstands and a good backbend followed by deep hips I’m happy.”
Jason Crandell:“I can’t say that I have one go-to practice when I’m pressed for time, but I’ve gotten to know my body well enough over the years that I know that my hips need daily maintenance—especially my hip-flexors. So, if I’m in pinch, I usually dig into the full-circumference of my hip-joint and make sure that I’ve done my due diligence there. If my hips feel spacious, mobile and balanced, the rest of me usually feels pretty good and my mind seems relatively sane. If they don’t get taken care of, everything gets cranky (yes, yoga teachers get cranky, too). I’ve also figured out how important it is to scale my practice according to the time and energy that I have. I used to try to cram a ton of things into short practices, thinking that I had to get my laundry list of postures and body parts done. I’ve certainly matured out of this mindset, which, honestly, made me feel more scattered and pressed for time anyway. If I don’t have much time, I don’t do much. I’d rather do fewer poses for longer with greater skill and deeper relaxation than take a buckshot approach in which I try “to get everything in.”
Tiffany Cruikshank: “Standing poses, I can’t say enough how much I am a huge fan of standing poses. As in life it’s the simple things that give us the most bang for our buck. When I’m in a pinch I can bang out a really potent standing practice in 30mins.”
Steven Espinosa: “When time is tight and I can’t get a full practice in the first area I go to is the lower body. Given that we all spend so much of our daily lives sitting, driving and working at computers, it’s usually my hips, hamstrings, thighs and lower back that need the most immediate attention. I also find that by opening up those areas it calms my central nervous system down in a way which helps me feel more grounded and centered during or after a long hard day.”
Marc Holzman: “For those of us who are accustomed to a standard 90 minute practice, the thought of a 30-45 minute session may seem like the Great Yogic Rip-off. So here’s the key: FOCUS. INTENTION. DISCIPLINE. If you are super clear about what you would like to do in your short practice, it’s astonishing what you can accomplish in 30 minutes. Turn the phones off. Put the computer to sleep. I reserve one minute to sit, close my eyes, tap into Consciousness and recite a mantra. I never sacrifice a moment of centering and sweetness simply because I have a time constraint. A full spectrum, potpourri practice is my choice so I can hit all body parts. After a few Surya Namaskars, I target one or two poses from each of the major categories: Standing Poses, Hand Balancing (always includes one timed handstand for at least one minute), Twists, Inversions (always a headstand for at least 5 minutes), Some Hip Openers/Thigh Stretches, Backbends (always includes three Urdhva Dhanurasanas), Deeper Forward Bends and Hip Openers (always one Hanumanasana and Padmasana), Pranayama, Savasana (always … even for just 2 minutes). When the boundaries of time are constrained, my resolve and intensity grows ~ thus during these practices I move in a quick (but mindful) flow. I don’t hold poses for very long, and I generally don’t stop to take breaks.”
Amy Ippoliti: “A down dog, a handstand, and a prasarita paddotanasana with hands clasped overhead (because it’s an all-in-one pose that gets your hamstrings, hips, shoulders and it inverts you!). If I’m lucky a little supta virasana is the cherry on top.”
Tara Judelle: “For me, there really is no “go-to” practice. I always check in with my body, see- does it need fire, and something stimulating, like handstands, or does it need a cooling reset? No matter what, it is always to assess what it needs, and attend to that.”
Dice Iida-Klein:“My go to practice is a 1min. hold in handstand and hollow back forearm balance. Tons of stretching from the floor, including upavistha konasana, janu sirsasana plus variations, ardha matsyendrasana, core work with a block between my thighs and a few supine postures like padanguthasana, happy baby and twists from the floor.”
Noah Mazé: “This depends on what is pressing, where my energy is, and where I would like my energy to be. There are days when I am tired, and have only a short time to practice, and want to be rejuvenated. On those days, I will practice the basic inversions (down dog, uttanasana, prasarita padottanasana, sirsana, halasana and sarvangasana). On other days, when I want to energize and focus, I will simply do 5 Surya Namaskar A and 5 Surya Namaskar B. And there are days when I practice a shortened version of the sequence that I will be teaching, to get it fresh in my body and mind.”
Stephanie Snyder: “In my twenties and early thirties I did 2-3 hours of yoga a day- everyday, no matter what. I had tons of time and a flexible schedule that allowed me a long luxurious practice. Gratefully, over the years my life has become even more blessed and full with family and work and fun. So while I may not get several hours everyday anymore, I CAN do something everyday. My go-to practice when Im pressed for time is simply 5 surya namaskar A and 5 surya namaskar B. This can be mindfully done in 20 minutes and includes a pretty complete practice of strengthening, front and back body openers, and Ujayyi breath. If I have 30 minutes, I’ll link some standing poses into the surya B series- usually parsvakonasana (side stretch) and Parvritta Trikonasana (twisting triangle). If I have 45 minutes I’ll add a backbend and follow that up with straddle forward fold and of course at least 5 minutes for Savasana. The longer I practice, the more I realize that its not about the poses, that my practice has no particular boundary in time, does not exist solely on my mat or my meditation cushion or in front of my harmonium- but in fact my practice begins when I open my eyes in the morning and ends when I close them at night.”
Jo Tastula:“Cat/cow (majaryasana/bitilasana or chakravakasana) can be an entire practice for me these days. The gentle wave like motion through the core of the body enhances flexibility of the spine and supports the flow of cerebrospinal fluid which is essential for well being and feelings of well being. It’s something I can do that doesn’t require a lot of energy and in my experience it creates energy! The rhythm of chakravakasana draws attention to the breath, the core abdominal muscles and how they coordinate with the breath. It transports me into that innate primal place that occurs all on it’s own and requires no thought or analytical process. It seems to evoke and stimulate the yummy creative juices and from there the practice evolves and I simply go with the flow.”
Harshada Wagner: “Slowing down. If I’m not going to do a formal practice, I just slow down in the midst of whatever else I’m doing. Even if I am super pressed for time and going fast wherever I am going, I try to have the inner awareness, “slow down” so that I can connect with my Heart. I sort of say, “Okay Harshada, this is it- this is all you get right now, so make it count.” Then wherever I am, in the elevator going to my teaching space, getting dressed in the morning, taking a shower, whatever, I just slow down my whole inner experience and savor the moment. I connect to my heart and keep moving into wherever I am needed.”
Don’t forget – if you have a question you’d like to “Ask a Yogi” let us know in the comments or email us at hello@yogaglo.com and we’ll add your questions to the list. Stay tuned for next week’s Ask a Yogi where the question answered might be yours!
Notice something different about the YogaGlo site today? In addition to a pretty new background and a few subtle changes, we’ve launched an exciting new feature. You’ve asked for an easier way to find great yoga classes and…your wait is over! Our newly designed search feature has just launched.
Instead of selecting “Specific Uses” from our top navigation, you can now go directly to the Search page to filter over 1,500 YogaGlo classes by a variety of criteria so you can hone in on a perfect class depending on what you need at any moment in time. Want to skip ahead and get straight to searching? Go, search, enjoy!
Want more information about this new search feature and its close cousin the re-vamped Filter feature? Here’s how they work:
As with every part of YogaGlo, new features are a work in progress and we’re only as amazing as all of you in the YogaGlo community. If find something that seems funky or isn’t working for you, please let us know. If you have more questions about how it works, let us know. If you have ideas about how it could be even more efficient for you, let us know that too. You can even let us know if you like it.
Now…get out there and find a YogaGlo class you love and take it today. Enjoy!
It is often said that any New Year’s resolution worth sticking to should be started not on January first, but in the second week of January. After the holiday decorations are put away, after you get back to a regular work routine, after the pressure of kicking it all off on the very first day of the year subsides.
We’ve added several classes over the past week to help you work your way into a new intention, a new focus, or a renewed commitment to your practice. If it is clearing away the mental clutter you seek, if it is a twisting flow to cleanse your body or a time to celebrate the beauty of life and all that awaits us in the New Year, we’ve got a New Year yoga class just for you:
New Year Flow with Kathryn Budig – Happy New Year! Set your intention and then stoke the fire through this strong flow intended to keep you on track:)
Where Did the Time Go? with Jason Crandell – Drop in, register, and take a breath — it’s the New Year (or, any other time for that matter). If you’ve ever thought “wow, a whole year went by and I barely noticed it,” this practice is for you. This all-around flow practice is focused on helping you practice the skill of being present. Sure, you’ll stretch, strengthen, cleanse and more, but the real focus here is registering and savoring each moment.
Wipe the Slate Clean with Felicia Tomasko - Wipe the slate clean through this cleansing soft Yin practice that uses the principles of Ayurveda to encourage the processes of releasing whatever needs to be relased in order to fully nourish ourselves. Whether we’re letting go, starting the new year, negotiating family, recovering from an illness, or living our daily lives, cleansing is an important part of allowing ourselves to be nourished. This practice uses a block and bolster for supported backbends, twists, and a soft forward fold.
Align with Elena Brower – We are always being guided, helped, aided in some way; our practice is a chance to align with that influence. We will start and end with a restful awareness of your foundation, using subtle alignment cues for your feet while flowing into ever-evolving alignment with the space in our bodies, in any moment. Sweet flow, inversion, hip openers, arm balances, hips and backbends, finishing twists as well as meditation. Strong and delicious.
Cleansing Flow with Tiffany Cruikshank - A cleansing vinyasa flow class meant to give the body a good rinse from the inside out. We’ll twist, fold, invert and bend back. Pure bliss indeed!
Calm Breath vs. Calm Mind with Steven Espinosa - When we calm our breath, we calm our mind, our bodies central nervous system settles, allowing us to be at more peace within our own heart. Strong Level 1 class with steady opening warm up including Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar). Followed by Standing Pose flow with emphasis on fluid breath with body movement to focus the mind. Also includes brief Tutorial on proper shoulder/upper back alignment in Cobra (Bhujangasana). Continues with several poses linked together with spinal twists, hips and thigh openers. Ends with Back Bend in Bow Pose (Danurasana), Reclining Hamstring Stretch (Supta Pandangustasana) and Savasana.
And, as a bonus class, Noah Maze’s Set Your Intention for the New Year class from last January 1st is inspiring, amazing and inspires you to manifest your highest aspirations in the dedication of moment to moment practice.
Join us this year as we shift our perspective and embrace all the beauty that awaits us. Enjoy!
About to get on yet another flight? Worried you’ll be stiff and miserable by the time you land and get to your hotel? Not to worry! We’ve been filming yoga for travel classes for a few years now and have built up a library of classes you can take with you wherever you go. Whether you want to sneak a few poses in pre-flight or need to fully open up and unravel the moment you get to your hotel after a long trip, our Travel Yoga videos section is your go-to guide.
A few must-take classes as you travel to and fro this holiday season:
Find Home Wherever You Are with Marc Holzman – This 30 minute class can be performed before or after you travel to ground your energy and find your sense of home. Various thigh stretches ending in a delicious wall sequence of headstand, viparita karani, and shoulder stand.
Long Trip Prep with Felicia Tomasko - Get ready for a long trip with this short but sweet whole body practice that includes poses to open up the shoulders, spine and hips for happy traveling.
Pre-Flight Yoga with Dice lida-Klein - Traveling soon? Take this tutorial with you and practice near your gate, pre-flight! Done from a seated position, we use wide-legged fold (upavistha konasana), bound-angle pose (baddhakonasana), forward fold (paschimottanasana) and seated twist (marichyasana C) to open our inner groin, hamstrings, hips and low back. Find a space that’s clear – never mind your fellow travelers. They’re just looking because they wish they could feel as good as you do before the flight.
Mid-Travel Yoga Practice with Jo Tastula - So ~ you’re in a crowded space…nowhere to put down a mat and fully stretch out but your poor body is suffering??? Here’s some ideas for stretches that you can do standing in the airport, at the train station, at the post office – that won’t bring too much attention to you. Warning; great amounts of humor needed when doing yoga in public spaces
Post-Travel Rebalance with Jason Crandell - When I get off a plane or out of a car, I want to do 3 things: open my hips, fix my back and appreciate that I’m at my destination. This is my go-to practice to re-balance my body. It has just enough movement and strength to make you feel alive, manage your jet-lag, and help reboot your system.
There are many others to take along the way, including this Harshada Wagner “Ready for Anything” meditation that several of you recently mentioned helped you during a stressful flight.
Fly boldly, travel confidently, knowing you have many tools at your fingertips for remaining calm and loose in transit and unwinding properly when you get there. And as our YogaGlo teachers have pointed out, it takes a healthy dose of humor to practice yoga in public spaces. We know you can do it! Enjoy!
We’ve just launched two new Specific Use categories on the YogaGlo site that we’re very excited to share with you:
Continuous Flow – If you prefer your yoga in a non-stop workout format where you build heat, hold poses briefly and move to the next, this new category is for you. Every class listed on this page (and all new ones added) follow a continuous flow format to be sure that if you want a full-on yoga workout in 60 minutes, you’ll get it. We’ll be adding various levels and various teachers to this category over time, so get your yoga workout on and let us know what you think.
Cross-Training – Are you a runner? Cyclist? Snowboarder? Surfer? A combination of all these and more? Yoga works brilliantly as pre-event stretching or post-event recovery and we’ve curated a great set of classes that are designed to help keep you in top form for your favorite sport and to help prevent injuries along the way. As you enjoy these classes, don’t be shy about letting us know what sport you love most so we be sure to add classes that are targeted at your needs.
Enjoy these two new yoga categories as you workout, run, spin and swim your way to feeling good!
One of the most frequently asked tech questions we receive at YogaGlo is how to connect your computer to your TV so you can get the true, in-class experience of YogaGlo – which is how each class is filmed. Technology is changing rapidly and very soon we’ll be able to share news about several different platforms and how to have a more integrated experience than our tech help currently offers, but we did want to share one very cool, just-out new feature for Apple-lovers.
If you have invested in the latest iPad or an iPhone 4 and just happen to have Apple TV as well, the new AirPlay feature released by Apple will help you beam your YogaGlo experience from your iPad/iPhone to your tv in…seconds!
Here’s a very brief, on-the-fly tutorial of how this works so you can see just how easy it is…
Cool, right? Here’s what you’ll need to get it setup:
iPhone or iPad with the latest iOS 4.3 and the Apple TV with the latest upgrade (4.2).
To upgrade the Apple TV go to Settings -> General -> Update Software. If a newer version is available it will ask you to upgrade.
Turn on AirPlay on the Apple TV: Turn on AirPlay on the Apple TV and go to Settings -> AirPlay select On
To check your iOS version on the iPhone & iPad go to Settings -> General -> About and look at the number next to Version. If its not 4.3 you will need to upgrade.
To upgrade the iPhone or iPad, open iTunes, click on the device name on the left and click “Check Update.” If a newer version is available it will ask you to upgrade.
If that seems less than simple, feel free to email us your questions and we’ll help you get setup for a truly in-class yoga experience wherever you are!
Do you start your day with the intention to devote at least a full hour to yoga but get derailed by the day’s events? It’s no secret that we’re all living busier lives, which can make squeezing in much-needed time for reflection a challenge. Whether you sit at a desk all day or run from meeting to meeting, it can be difficult to make time to simply tune-in to you and re-focus.
We’ve got good news for you! With YogaGlo, you can still fit in a mini-yoga break. The secret? Sort by Duration on the navigation menu and you’ll find short yoga videos that you can do in a pinch…wherever you are. Our favorite option for the busiest days? 5 minute yoga videos.
You may not have an hour today…but you have five minutes don’t you?
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