April 2009

Yoga teachers mention “bandhas” all the time in class, but how many of us truly understand what they are and how to incorporate them into our practice? Bandha is the Sanskrit word for lock, or seal. In yoga, these locks assist us in our asana and pranayama practices to help tone, energize and cleanse our body and organs. Done properly, they ensure better alignment in postures, protecting us from strain and injury.

In this session, Sarah breaks down the three specific interior body locks: Mula Bandha (Root Lock,) Uddiyana Bandha (Naval or Abdominal Lock,) and Jalandara Banda (Throat Lock.) Activating all three at once is referred to as Maha Bandha, or the great lock. Enjoy!

Neesha offers a few tips for healthy air travel and demonstrates exercises that can be done while in your seat to ensure you’re calm and refreshed when you arrive at your final destination! Be sure to download this video to have ready on your laptop or iPod for your next flight:)

Whether you lead an active lifestyle or sit at a desk all day, it’s pretty common to walk through life with tight hips. Left unattended; this region of the body can become a reservoir for stress and anxiety. Promote healthy hip flexors and strengthen the legs, core and lower back with this deep hip opening sequence with Adi.

Feeling overwhelmed by outside influences? In this day and age of media saturation it is sometimes hard not to be affected by news surrounding global economic “meltdown.” Before you know it your attitude shifts into negative gear and your sense of control begins to slip. The antidote: keep the mind open. Staying mentally flexible helps you to accept change as an inevitable part of life and grants you a perspective of opportunity where others may see darkness.

Yoga practice emphasizes the undeniable mind-body connection that exists in all of us. Taking care of the body helps the mind better attune to the cycle of change. Join Sarah for a restorative sequence of five hip opening postures that will release tension in the body and in turn, soothe the mind.