Tag Archives: prevent yoga injuries

How to use the Lighthouse Technique to protect your back

The Lighthouse stands tall on the point of land shining its powerful light out to sea protecting the ships from the dangerous rocks nearby. Bob’s yoga teacher tells him that he needs to use the Lighthouse Technique to protect his back and improve his forward folds. Bob is working on Paschimottanasana one of many forward […]

How to use Balasana to increase your enjoyment of yoga

Alice is feeling as wilted as the flowers she saw in a store window on the way to yoga class. She is doing a vigorous yoga practice and has run out of energy. But Alice has a plan to bring fresh energy to her practice. She is taking a break in Balasana. What is Balasana […]

How to stand tall like a tree in Vrksasana

The wind is blowing hard. The tree has been through this many times before. It continues to stand tall with its branches spreading far into the air. It would only move slightly back and forth as the wind blew hard and harder. There may be no wind blowing in Alice’s yoga class to challenge her […]

How a little dog will improve your ankle flexibility

Whenever Bob does Triang Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana (pronounced tree-AWN-guh moo-KA-eh-ka-paw-duh , POSH-ee -MO-tun-ASH-anna) his ankles complain bitterly. When Bob does Triang Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana he places one shin on the floor with his foot next to his hip and his other leg is extended straight ahead. He needs a lot of flexibility in […]

How to keep yoga from being a pain in the back

This is the moment that Bob has been looking forward to with mixed emotions.   The class is about to do Downward Facing Dog. Today Bob is looking forward to doing the pose for the first time ever. In the past he has dreaded doing Downward Facing Dog.  It has always caused him pain in his […]

Why embracing the crow will improve your yoga practice

Bob is working on Paschimottanasana and his short hamstrings are preventing him from moving very far into the pose. His hands are only getting just beyond his knees. It does not matter what he does he can get no further. His yoga teacher tells him to embrace the crow and improvements will come. He tells […]