![Yoga Anatomy, Alignment, and Kinesiology]()
Jan 23, 2013 |
Can I just tell you how excited I am for Kreg Weiss to come to Richfield, Ohio? You heard that right – not Cleveland, not Columbus, but my very own ’hood! Kreg is one of the founders of MyYogaOnline, a certified and highly experienced Hatha yoga instructor, international presenter, super nice guy, the teacher of one of my favorite yoga videos “Siesta for the Spine”, and kinesiologist.
Say what? You had me until kinesiologist.
Kinesiology is the branch of physiology that studies the mechanics and anatomy of the body in relation to human movement – or, in simpler terms, it is the science of movement.
Kreg is coming to Nirvana Yoga in February to lead a series of workshops that will take students on a journey through the fundamental elements of anatomy and kinesiology that will enhance their yoga practices. If that seems a little intimidating or heady for some yoga practitioners, Kreg has promised me that the material will be presented in a fun, user-friendly manner that is accessible to all (regardless of previous experience with anatomical concepts). Now we’re talking!
Kreg showed off his one-handed peacock pose for me when we met up at the New York Yoga Journal Conference in 2012.
I’m a big fan of Kreg’s classes on MyYogaOnline because of his unique style of teaching that combines asanas, pranayama, and meditation to create a peaceful yet powerful yoga practice. It’s not easy to do, but Kreg has the ability to deliver classes that provide a challenge, but in a way that not only keeps you safe but leaves you feeling full of peace. If you want to check out his style, Kreg has posted excerpts from quite a few of his videos on his website.
Wanna geek out with me and get a good fix of yoga anatomy? Here’s the deets (what, where, when) on Kreg’s upcoming workshops in Richfield, Ohio.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Exploring Core Elements of Vinyasa
Enjoy exploring the foundational elements of vinyasa as we break down key poses and transitions of this classic flow. This yoga anatomy workshop will offer an integrative approach, providing insights and tips on how to enhance integrity and functional form so that vinyasa practices retain a therapeutic, nurturing intention.
*6:30 – 9 PM $45 / $35 before Feb. 1
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Enhanced Steadiness and Integrity for the Knees
Delve into the world of kinesiology and yoga anatomy as we examine functional elements for maintaining strength and awareness in our knees. From how we stand to how we sit, we will look at how we can best manipulate the entire chain of joints and muscles in key poses in order to keep the knees safe while acquiring the optimum benefits of each pose. Following this 2.5-hour workshop, we will integrate these concepts into an energizing Hatha yoga flow.
12:30 – 4:30 PM $55 / $45 before Feb. 1
Hatha class level will be moderate to intermediate.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Practicing Yoga with Functionality and Relevance
Our daily health is greatly determined by how we settle into our posture. This yoga anatomy workshop will look at posture-related issues including Upper/Lower Cross Syndrome, Forward Head Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, open locked/closed lock principles, kinetic chain effects, and other similar conditions affecting postural health. We will explore how to address this from a restoration perspective and cover the necessary modifications in our practice to enhance recovery and rebalancing of our musculoskeletal and energetic systems. We will follow this workshop with a Hatha yoga practice that will interlace these concepts into the flow.
10:00 AM – 2:30 PM $55 / $45 before Feb. 1
Hatha class level will be moderate.
Follow Kreg Weiss Yoga on Facebook and on Twitter.
One last plug for Kreg, if you run a yoga teacher training program and are looking for someone to come in to cover the anatomy portions, please get in touch with Kreg.
If you’ve done one of Kreg’s online video classes, please leave a comment below and let me know which one you’ve tried and would like to recommend to other yogis.
Nov 27, 2012 |
I’m a big fan of online yoga video websites. Of course, nothing beats going to a live yoga class, but when you get busy, especially during this hectic month of December, you may have a hard time making it to a yoga studio at the exact time when they offer classes (like those nights when taking a class at 10 PM seems like a swell idea).
The beauty of online video classes is that you can do them WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE TIME and wherever you have an internet connection. They offer flexibility in terms of length, yoga style, intensity, and an amazing variety of different teachers.
I’ve written about My Yoga Online and Do Yoga With Me, and now I’d like to share the top ten reasons why I’m digging Yoga Download.
1) Free pose guides (this is the coolest feature!) – If you like a class and want to do it again, each class has a pose guide you can download as a PDF. These guides show the sequence of yoga poses from the class, and under each pose picture is the name of the yoga pose. You can save these guides to your computer and print them out for a visual reference during class or to use again for your own home practice.
2) Try it out for FREE first – Yoga Download offers 47 classes that you can try for free. The free class is 20 minutes, and if you like it you can try out the longer versions of these classes. There is a huge variety of free offerings like Jivamukti, Power Baptiste, Forrest Yoga, Anusara, Yin, Prenatal, and Pilates, to name a few. If you’ve always wanted to try out these different styles of yoga, now you can for FREE.
3) Stream it or Download it – If you are one of those people who like to buy the DVDs of your favorite movies, Yoga Download has an option like this. Try a video first, and if you love it, you can download it and keep it forever.
4) Chill-out yoga music – There’s a whole section of chillaxing style yoga music you can check out and purchase. If you dig electronic and organic instrumentals and are looking for some cool new tunes for your yoga classes, you’ll find a great selection of new artists and styles here. For each featured album you can view the tracklist, listen to a portion of each track, and either buy individual tracks or the full album.
5) Community – Yoga Download gives a portion of their proceeds to these organizations: The American Cancer Society, Foundation for International Community Assistance Small Loans (FINCA), Big Changes, Plan USA – Helping Children Through Sponsorship, and Cambodian Children’s Fund. In fact they’ve developed a special class, Yoga for Cancer Survivors, and for every download, they donate 50% of the fee to the American Cancer Society.
6) Awesome pricing plans – For just $10, you can get unlimited streaming classes for a month. For $24, you get unlimited streaming for 3 months, and for $90, unlimited streaming for a whole year! If you want to add downloads to that, it costs just a little more. Don’t want to commit to a full month or year? You can stream most classes for a $1.99 a la carte price.
7) Stress release – Yeah, December is a tough month. Let yoga get you through this stressful time with classes like Yoga for Anxiety and Yoga for Back Pain.
Shiva Rea live at Tadasana Festival 2012
8) Shiva Rea’s Solar and Lunar Flow classes are available! – I got to attend a few of Shiva’s classes at Tadasana Festival, and they rocked! If you can’t make it out to one of her live classes, this is the next best thing.
9) Great gift idea – Yoga Download is the perfect gift for a busy friend or someone you know who doesn’t live near a yoga studio. Give the gift of unlimited yoga for a month or a year to someone you love!
10) Yoga for Peace –Yoga Download established the Yoga For Peace program to show support for American troops overseas and current members of the Peace Corps. In the true spirit of yoga, the entire Yoga Download catalogue is available FREE to active duty servicemen and women as their way of thanking those who have offered themselves to a greater mission.
If you or anyone you know is serving in the armed forces or Peace Corps and would like access to free yoga classes, please send an email to help@yogadownload.com for more information.
Jul 14, 2011 |
“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day—unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.”
–Old Zen adage
I’ve had a crazy couple of weeks. I’m not complaining, because they have been filled with lots of wonderful summer activities, family visits, and good, fulfilling work. Summer is a busy time for many people, and the problem is that when we get busy, our regular yoga and meditation practices get pushed to the side, and that is precisely when we need it most.
We need to step away from the notion that we don’t have enough time and just carve out at least 10 to 30 minutes for a little breath meditation and yoga. You may not think this is enough to get the benefits, but your body and your mind will thank you for giving it a little respite from the incessant chatter and stress of your day. Just spending a few minutes sitting still, closing your eyes, and breathing deeply can be highly therapeutic. I can testify that the time I spend each morning meditating helps me stay focused, alert, and ready to take on the day with a joyful spirit.
One of the best places I know to get the instruction you need when you don’t have time to make it to the yoga studio is the web site My Yoga Online. The cool thing about My Yoga Online is that you just dial in the amount of time you have (under 15 minutes, 15–30 minutes, 31–60 minutes, or over 60) and shazam! a whole list of online yoga video classes come up in the search results.
My Yoga Online co-founder Michelle Trantina, courtesy MyYogaOnline.com
I just did a search for yoga videos that are under 15 minutes in length and found an 8-minute guided meditation focused on contentment, a quick 10-minute yoga class video that focuses on stretching and releasing your lower back and limbs, an 11-minute session great for people who sit at school or work all day, and an 8-minute routine to open the heart and the shoulders, just to name a few.
My Yoga Online has hundreds of videos covering different yoga styles from beginner to advanced, Pilates and dance, meditation, workplace wellness, and workshops that cover topics like anatomy, breathing, and the chakras. If you would like to learn more, read “My Top 10 Reasons To Try (and Love) My Yoga Online.”
One of my favorite videos on My Yoga Online (and I have a long list) is “Morning Yoga Flow,” with Neil Mark. Neil starts out the class in savasana and progresses to sun salutations, with a special emphasis on the lower back and sacral spine. The class takes just 36 minutes, but when it is done, my body is tingling, and that yogalicious feeling stays with me throughout the entire day.
There is nothing better than attending a live yoga class at a studio (or a beach!), but when you are short on time, don’t rob yourself of the benefits of a daily yoga practice. Just turn on your computer and spend a few minutes nourishing your body and your soul.
WIN A FREE YEAR OF MY YOGA ONLINE!
My Yoga Online co-founder Kreg Weiss, courtesy MyYogaOnline.com
Aren’t you glad you kept reading this post?! Yes, it’s true; because the yogis at My Yoga Online are so cool, one lucky Daily Downward Dog reader will win a free year of online membership to My Yoga Online. Here’s what you need to do to win: Visit My Yoga Online and take the site tour of all they have to offer. Maybe like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter if you’re feeling a little love in your heart, and leave a comment below just letting me know what you would be most excited about trying if you had your very own membership to My Yoga Online. You will get an extra entry if you tweet or share this giveaway on Facebook (just be sure to let me know in the comments below). The contest is open until July 25, 2011, at noon, when I will pick one person from the comments below in a random drawing and they are going to feel like it is Christmas in July! Woot Woot!
If you already subscribe to My Yoga Online you can still enter. Just leave a comment below and let me know your favorite videos, so I can check them out too!
All images courtesy of My Yoga Online.
Sep 3, 2010 |
Wednesday, September 1 was the kickoff of National Yoga Month, and you’ve got 28 days left to get into the festivities. The purpose of National Yoga Month is to create awareness about the many benefits of yoga and hopefully encourage Americans to get out there and give yoga a try!
If you’ve always wanted to try it but don’t know where to start, here are two great programs going on this month to get you onto a yoga mat.
1) You absolutely must visit the Yoga Month Web site. They have links to hundreds of free classes and events and a list of over 1200 yoga studios nationwide offering one free week of yoga.
2) If you would rather try yoga out in the comfort of your home, My Yoga Online is offering free online training sessions. My Yoga Online is a premium on-demand subscription service for yoga and wellness videos. They offer one of the largest and most diverse mind-body video and article libraries in the world. The cool thing is that their classes fit your schedule—you can log on at anytime, from anywhere, and have access to the perfect class for you. If you have always wanted to try My Yoga Online, now’s your chance to check it out for free before you sign up.
I’m personally celebrating National Yoga Month by setting some new intentions for my yoga practice and have a personal goal to do a headstand by the end of the month. I’ll also keep you posted on additional Yoga Month activities and helpful tips to get you started on your very own yoga journey.
With all these festivities and FREE classes, there really is no excuse to give it a try!
Stop by every weekday for the Daily Downward Dog, my journal of cool yoga experiences. Thank you for checking out the ads and products when you visit to help fund this site!
