Practising Yoga Search Results

How To: Do yoga exercises to flatten the stomach

Cindy Mastry, Yoga instructor from YogaEtcStudio shows us how to do the yoga exercises to flatten the stomach. She considers the best exercise to flatten the stomach is the cleansing practice called as Agnisaar kriya which actually means Fire wash where you are washing the fire in the stomach. it not only flattens your abdomen but also improves the digestive and eliminatory system. For this you need to do is to inhale and reach your arms up to the sky and then you need to exhale and bend your...

How To: Do a surya namaskara with proper breathing

Surya namaskara is a very common sequence in any yoga class. Surya namaskara is better known as a sun salutation. This instructional yoga-how to video demonstrates a sun salutation sequence that you can practice at home. Watch as it also shows you the proper breathing sequence to do during the sun salutation.

How To: Do the Bakasana pose in yoga

In this tutorial, we learn how to do the Bakasana pose in yoga. First, take a deep breath and crouch down on your feet. Now, keep deep breathing and bring your arms out in front of you. Lean forward, and place all of your weight on your hands. After this, lift your feet up off the floor while they are still crouched inwards towards the abdomen. Take several deep breaths while you are in this position. Make sure you aren't placing your weight on your feet, or you won't be able to lift them up ...

How To: Do a yoga heart gate pose

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a heart gate yoga pose. Make sure you are warmed up before you come into this exercise, so you won't pull a muscle. Begin in a basic side angle pose, starting in warrior 2. Now, take the right elbow onto the right thigh and sweep the left arm over to the left ear. Make sure your core is straight and your spine is long. Now, lean down into the right side of the body while keeping the left arm high. To take it into a deeper stretch, look over your ...

How To: Do a yoga camel pose and rabbit pose

In this video, we learn how to do a yoga camel and rabbit pose with Dina Prioste. Make sure you warm up before you start this, so you don't pull a muscle. First, start on your knees and your toes tucked under. Your hands should be on your lower back, then inhale and lift your chest up to the ceiling. Take a few breaths here, then get out of the post and sit back on your heels. Now, sit on your knees again and do the same exercise, except with putting your arms on the back of your thighs or he...

How To: Do a yoga parsvottanasana to stretch the hamstrings

In this tutorial, we learn how to do a yoga parsvottanasana to stretch the hamstrings with Dina Prioste. First, place your hands against the wall with your feet stretch out 3 feet apart. Press your hands to the wall and stretch your legs out, you should feel a stretch through your hamstrings when you are doing this. If you want a deeper stretch, bring blocks on either side of your front foot and push your hands onto the block as far as you can while folding your body into the leg. This is a g...

How To: Improve yoga backbends

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how improve yoga back bends. Start by laying down on your stomach and have your legs into the air. Put socks on your feet and grab onto your socks that are on your feet. Now, lift your upper body and pull your feet towards your head. Push your elbows into the air and make sure they are pushed straight ahead of you. Using a tube sock with this exercise will work best. You can also try using the socks while doing a pigeon pose, just make sure to use a sock t...

How To: Do a quick morning yoga workout

In this tutorial, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a quick morning yoga workout. Start in a tabletop position and inhale while looking up, then exhale while looking down. Make sure to raise and lower your back as you are doing these. These are also said to be the "cow" and "cat" poses, so you should look like these animals as you are doing these. Keep doing these exercises for several minutes, remembering to inhale and exhale and stretch out your body at the same time. When finished, sit and r...

How To: Firm your booty with a yoga wall-sit chair pose

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to your booty with a yoga wall-sit chair pose. Start off by sitting flat against the wall with your feet hip width apart. Hold this position for a few breaths. You shouldn't be sitting on an actual chair, just an invisible one. Now, grab a book and place it between your thighs, then squeeze as hard as you can while still breathing and focusing as much as you can. When finished, take a break and get back into the position and do that same move once agai...

How To: Use a strap to assist in yoga stretching

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to use a strap while stretching with yoga. Start off laying down with your feet against a wall and toes pointed to the ceiling. Now, take your strap and extend your right leg up. Keep your left foot pressed against the wall. Next, pull the strap and flex your leg closer towards you until you feel a stretch. Do this on both sides of the body and make sure to keep your body flat against the floor. For a harder exercise, lean your leg to the right hand si...

How To: Do a yoga downward dog pose with pushup variations

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga downward dog pose with pushup variations. Start off in a plank pose with your hands directly underneath your shoulders, then into the downward dog position. Inhale as you go into plank and exhale as you go into the downward dog position. Keep your elbows in line with your shoulders and don't lower your elbows more than 90 degrees. The next variation of this is to put your hands shoulder width apart in downward facing down and push up and d...

How To: Stay awake at work using yoga exercises

To use yoga exercises to wake up and stay awake at work, begin by doing breathing stretches: i.e. cow to cat stretches. Inhale, expanding your chest out for the cow stretch, and exhale concaving your chest into the cat stretch. Next, do side stretches from left to right. Repeat these. Next, add 4 punches: left jab, right jab, undercut, and undercut. Extend your arms fully. Repeat all of the steps together.

How To: Do a yoga eight angle or astavakrasana pose

Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga eight angle or astavakrasana pose in this video. To do this, make sure your arms are strong and you are stretched out. Now, get into a push up position placing your elbows at a 90 degree angle. Next, lay back down and sit in a position where you can rock your right knee. Then place your right knee over your right shoulder and place your hands on the floor to lift your butt up off the floor. Next, hook your feet and lean forward so it feels like you are f...

How To: Do a yoga deep hip and groin stretch

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga deep hip and groin stretch. Begin in a wide straddle position with your knees slightly bent and your feet turned out. Now, bend over the right knee and stretch out your left leg, keeping it extended and active. Breathe for several seconds while in this position. You can put your hands in a prayer position here if you are comfortable. Once finished, go over to the other side of the body and continue to deep breathe. You can add this into yo...

How To: Do a yoga L shape handstand

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga l-shaped hand stand. Come into a long plank pose and lift your hips up to come into downward dog. Work on getting your back nice and long in this position. Next, sit away from the wall with your feet flat up against the wall. From here, take your hands and flip over into a tabletop position. Now, lift your hips up and come into a short downward dog with your heels against the wall. Now take both feet to the wall to come into the l-shape. R...

How To: Do a yoga sequence to center the mind and regain focus

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to do a mind centering yoga sequence. Begin by sitting back on your heels and brings your hands together in front of your chest. Inhale as you bring the arms out and above your head. Exhale as you place the right hand on the floor and extend the left foot out. Then as you inhale, reach upward with your left hand. Now exhale and return to the starting position. Do this on the opposite side as well. This video will benefit those viewers who are interest...

How To: Do a yoga 'dedicated to the sage' arm balance pose

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga arm balance pose. Warm up before you do this pose, to avoid muscle pull. Start in a wide lunge stance and work on getting your elbows down to the floor. If you can't do that, stack some blocks or books to where your elbows can stretch to. Now, sit back and stretch your foot, then go back to the same pose and get your shoulders down as low as you can. You can spread your arms out while doing this, and focus on relaxing and staying in balanc...

How To: Reverse yoga poses to open up shoulders

In this tutorial, we learn how to do reverse yoga poses to open up the shoulders with Dina Prioste. You will want to start off in a reverse table top position, which will give your shoulders a nice deep stretch. To come into this position, sit with your knees bent and take your hands behind you, so your fingers point towards your feet. Now, inhale and lift your hips up and keep pressing your feet into the floor. Keep your chin touching to your chest. A regular tabletop position just includes ...

How To: Do a yoga flying crow pose arm balance

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a flying crow pose arm balance in yoga. After you are warmed up, start in a semi squat position with your right angle over your left thigh. Now, bring your hands together in front of your heart and bring your elbows to the front of your shins. Now bring your hands to the floor and hook the right foot outside the left arm. Next, lean forward and engage the left back leg while lifting it up. Keep this pose for as long as you can, then do it again o...

How To: Do a yoga boat pose with a twist

In this tutorial, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga boat pose with a twist. First, start off with your knees bent and take your knees up so your shins are parallel to the floor. Now, interlace your fingers and push your arms straight out in the air. As you inhale, twist your body to the side while pushing the legs into your body. Keep doing this on both sides as you inhale and exhale as many times as possible. For more of a challenge, twist farther down on the ground, remembering to keep...

How To: Do a yoga boat pose with a twist for power

In this tutorial, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga boat pose with a twist for power. First, begin in a boat pose raising your legs up and facing forward. Interlace your hands together and inhale. Exhale and twist to the left and right side while pushing your legs forward and back. Next, place your hands on the floor and fall into a reverse tabletop position. Inhale and exhale several times in this position, then return to the boat twists and do quicker for twelve times each side. Rememb...

How To: Do a yoga peaceful or reverse warrior pose

In this tutorial, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a beautiful peaceful reverse yoga pose. Begin in a strong warrior pose and bring your right palm facing up, then bring your back hand to the back of your leg so it's just lightly touching it. Lift into a back bend and gaze up into the air. Make sure to lift and don't straighten your front leg. Draw your navel in to lengthen your spine and remember to control your breathing. This is a great way to strengthen the legs and a gentle way to prepare...

How To: Do a yoga legs up the wall pose

In this video tutorial, we learn how to do a yoga legs up the wall pose with Dina. First, grab some blankets and place them folded up against the wall. You can just simply roll onto the blankets, to make it easier to get onto them. You should roll onto the blankets on your back, with your legs up against the wall. Take the palms of your hands and place them up towards the ceiling. You can also squeeze your legs into a butterfly pose as well as open them to stretch out the legs. This is great ...

How To: Do a yoga seated forward bend to increase flexibility

In this tutorial, Dina Prioste shows us how to increase our flexibility with yoga. First, sit on the ground with your right leg straight out. Inhale and bring your left ribs toward your right leg. While exhaling, lean down until your arm reaches or foot, or as far as you can comfortably go. It's not a big deal to reach your foot. This will stretch our the hamstrings and the back. Focus on inhaling and breathing into the ribs and relaxing into the stretch while exhaling. Don't worry about wher...

How To: Do the "shoulder stretch" on the yoga trapeze

In this fitness video tutorial you will learn how to do the "shoulder stretch" on the yoga trapeze. Sit on the strap and lower back slowly while holding on to the straps. While doing this, wrap your feet around the straps and bring them together. Then get hold of the longest of the straps, rotate around, get your hands side by side so that the handles are in a straight line. Keep your head straight down and hang in this upside down position for about 50 seconds. Then try out a little variatio...

How To: Do a yoga bird of paradise standing balance pose

In this video, we learn how to do a bird of paradise yoga move with Dina Priost. This move is an intense pose, so make sure you are properly warmed up before you go into this move. First, start in an extended side angle pose then go into a bind. Make sure your top shoulder is on top of the other with your chest opened up. Now, straighten your left leg so you are in a triangle pose. Look up or look straight out front taking deep breaths. Now, bend both your legs so they are straight and bend d...

How To: Do a yoga hip flexor stretch to improve advanced poses

In this video, we learn how to do hip flexes with Dina Prioste. First, bring your right foot up and get into the downward facing dog position. Your right toe should be pointing towards the front and your left leg should be facing toward the back. Now, raise your arms high into the air so they are raised above you. To feel the stretch more deeply, lift up and stretch down further than before. You can also press into the top of the left foot and bring the right foot up if you are a more advance...

How To: Do a yoga tittibhasana or the firefly pose

In this tutorial, we learn how to do a firefly yoga pose with Dina Priost. Place a folded up blanket under your hands to provide support if you have tight wrists. Begin with arm pressure pose, squat on your blanket so it's behind your feet. Take your arms through your legs and place the hands down on the blanket so they are on the edge. Move your thighs up as high as you can and lean back while bringing the fee forward. Now, pick your feet up off the floor while deep breathing. Now, bring the...

How To: Do the splits using the yoga Monkey pose

Splits are easy when you're a little kid and flexibility is your friend. But joints and muscles naturally stiffen as you get older, making extreme stretching - including splits - increasingly difficult. You also get jipped of that wonderful hyperactive playtime called recess, when such physical tricks usually take place.

How To: Do the corpse pose

Commonly the final posture in any yoga routine, the Corpse Pose only sounds creepy. A few minutes of "playing dead" will make you feel more energized and focused—and ready to come back to life. To put it very basically, the position involves lying down on the floor in a very specific position that facilitates the body recharging properly after it's strenuous yoga workout. While this may seem unnecessary to be told how to lie down, these instructions will really help you to do so more effectiv...

How To: Do yoga exercises when pregnant

Cindy Mastry explains how yoga exercises can help with the union between mother and child for a woman who is pregnant. The word yoga translates to "union." The first exercise demonstrated is the Hindi Squat. While working strength and balance, the woman holds herself in the perfect position for giving birth. The next exercise Cindy calls "Cat Circling." The woman stands on her hands and knees and rotates her body in a circular motion, anchored my her limbs. This is supposed to put the baby in...

How To: Do Sivananda yoga

This video series will teach you step-by-step a Surya Namaskar Sun Salutation and over a dozen other Sivananda poses to begin or continue your yoga practice. Expert Cynthia Mastry will show you many poses, including uttanasana, sirsasana, dolphin, cobra, sarvangasana, halasana, and more.

How To: Do a variation of a yoga supine spinal twist

In this video, we learn how to do a variation of a yoga supine spinal twist with Dina Prioste. Start by laying down and your knees bent up with your feet as wide as the mat. Let your knees drop over to the right side and cross the bottom foot on the top of the top knee and bring your left arm out. Now, look over the left shoulder and deep breathe. Do this for several seconds and then continue to do on the other side of the body. Remember to focus on your breathing and relax while you're doing...

How To: Do a yoga headstand using two variation

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga headstand. There are two different ways to do headstands, so choose which one is easiest for you. Get down on your elbows and put the crown of your head on the floor, similar to if you were doing a downward dog. Now, walk your feet and slowly straighten your legs until they are straight up in the air. The second way to do this, is to get in the same position, except tip toe your feet in until your legs are straight up in the air. Hold this...

How To: Do a yoga half boat and boat pose

In this video, Dina Prioste shows us how to do a yoga half boat and boat pose. Make sure you are warmed up before going into this. First, lie down on your stomach and bring your right arm out and lift your left leg up with your left arm. Try to lift your thigh and leg up while lifting the right arm up as well. Deep breathe while doing this, then hold the position for several seconds. Now, do this on the other side of your body for the same amount of time. For a harder exercise, grab both legs...