Beginners
More Men Than Women on the Mat: Why Hot Yoga 26 Is Breaking Stereotypes at Sunrise
Last Friday’s 6 am Sunrise Hot Yoga 26 class at YogaSol was a scene you don’t see every day—not just in Norwalk, but in the yoga world at large: men outnumbered women on the mat. As John Updike famously wrote, “Women are the flexible sex.” Walk into almost any yoga studio, and you’ll spot women…
Read MoreMastering the Paschimottanasana Pose: A Power-Packed Sit-Up
Ah, the ancient practice of yoga. A tapestry of poses that promise to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. But today, we’re focusing on one specific pose: the Paschimottanasana, also known as the sit-up pose. Originating from the Sanskrit words “Paschim” meaning “western”, “Uttana” meaning “stretch”, and “Asana” meaning “seated”, or in some cases, “pose.”…
Read MoreAwkward Pose: the Benefits of Warming up With Chair Pose
Hot yoga is about to get a little awkward! Remember the first time you attended yoga class and felt awkward because everyone was staring at you? Newbie jitters can be uncomfortable and feel a bit isolating at first, but chances are others were way too focused on themselves to notice your epic yoga moves anyways.…
Read MoreMastering the Half-Moon Pose
Ah, yes, the Ardha Chandrasana. You’re here because you want to get a grasp on the Half-Moon Pose. Thankfully, you needn’t tread any further. We’ll help walk you through all of the steps and ways to approach the Half-Moon Pose so you can get the most out of it! Do not feel discouraged if, at…
Read More5 Reasons to Attend a Community Class
Community class and trying new things… I remember doing all kinds of new things as a kid. Riding a bike. Roller skating. Crossing the monkey bars. And I loved it. As a kid, most things are new anyway. And before a certain age, everyone is new at it, so it doesn’t seem unusual to give…
Read MoreI Tried Yin Yoga for the First Time: Here’s What Happened
My first-timer Yin yoga experience… It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and I’m stressed to the max. I have “career girl” work as usual. Project deadlines that everyone wants delivered BEFORE the holidays. And on top of that, I’m determined to make real contributions to this year’s Thanksgiving meal. You know, the kind that don’t reek…
Read MoreKapalabhati Breathing Benefits: Hot Yoga Leaves you Ready to Conquer What’s Next
Hot yoga kapalabhati breathing can get you ready for the day. Breathing is all the rage these days. Everyone’s doing it. 😉 And what’s more, everyone’s talking about it. I feel myself getting a little out of breath just thinking about it. And because there are so many studies happening on breath work, I’ve started…
Read MoreStanding Separate Leg Stretching Pose
Is the Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose a cure for sitting? Most of us sit for the majority of the day. That keeps our hamstrings contracted for hours on end. And you’ll know you have tight hammies the minute you try to bend down and touch your toes. That’s why the best workouts focus on…
Read MoreStanding Head to Knee Pose: Is it a Lifetime Journey?
Dandayamana-Janushirasana: Standing head to knee pose “…lock the knee, lock the knee, lock the knee…” When you hear that pose named, how does it make you feel? In my own yoga journey, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Standing Head to Knee Pose. Standing Head to Knee Pose from the Beginning The first time I…
Read MorePranayama: How Breath Control Changes Your Mind and Body
Pranayama. This is how we begin each 26 & 2 Hot Yoga class. Prana: life force + Yama: control. We start by bringing conscious control to our life force with the breath. During pranayama, we take the time to connect our minds to our bodies and bring stability to our practice. When your prana or…
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