Virabhadrasana is one of many fundamental yoga postures that is practiced in every Ashtanga and Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga.

Over time, working to have a 90 degree angle at the front knee as pictured here. And during this process becoming more comfortable with discomfort, as the stretching/opening of the hips can be a challenging process.

Why bother? One good reason is that more than 300,000 adults 65 and older, in which 80% are women, are hospitalized every year with hip fractures. Keeping the legs strong and the hips mobile with yoga postures like Virabhadrasana will decrease the chances of this happening to you.

In addition to keeping the body strong and mobile, also enhancing the mental fortitude mentioned above, and becoming more comfortable with discomfort. Being able to pause and explore difficult sensations that one might of ran away from earlier in life and thereby developing the skill of being able to choose a response instead of automatically reacting.

These are some very practical reasons to practice Yogasana and by themselves, reason enough. However, the practice will undoubtedly bear more fruit than just this. To delve deeper click on the link below to schedule your first class.

​~ Jason

Revolved Side Angle Pose / Parivrtta Parsvakonasana is a fundamental posture that you'll find in every Ashtanga and Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga.


Here are some key points:

• Place feet 4 to 5 feet apart.
• Bend the front knee so that it's directly above the ankle.
• Line up the heels of the feet with the back foot turned in about 45 degrees.
• Place the opposite arm outside the bent leg and bring the hands together.
• Press the arm against the leg while bracing the leg against the arm twisting at the waist.
• Don't hold your breath. Maintaining calm, deep breaths at about a 3 second inhale & 3 second exhale.

Practice consistently. A steady drip hollows out stone.

That said, if you're like so many of us, who need someone to hold us accountable and nudge us to break thru our limitations, you can register for DY in-studio classes or live-streams daily at the following link.

See you in class!

Jason

Like so many of the postures and movements we practice at Detroit Yoga, Ardha Uttanasana is another one that is both simple and effective. Just by holding the weight of the torso and arms parallel to the ground, it strengthens the lower back and hamstrings.

A common error is to round the lower back. Don't do that.

From a standing position, reach the chest forward as you fold half way. Keep the curve in your lower back.

Some modifications are arms at your sides and/or the knees can have some bend in them.

Click here to watch an Ardha Uttanasana video tutorial.

To develop your practice further, come visit us in our brick and mortar yoga school, or in our virtual classes by clicking on the link below.

See you soon.

​Jason

Considered a basic/fundamental posture, Revolved Triangle Pose is in almost every single class at Detroit Yoga.  

It may look simple enough, but it will take a few years (300 to 500 hours) of consistent Ashtanga Vinyasa practice to have a polished version of it.

Someone who has polished their basics has transformed themselves in more ways than just gaining strength and flexibility.  They were, or became, someone who kept showing up.  

Polishing and refining the little details of one's practice, inevitably polishes one's character.  Leading to self mastery.

Keep going.

​Jason

To watch a video tutorial going over some details of Revolved Triangle Pose click here.

Once, about 15 years ago, someone came up to me after class and asked why I hadn’t put any back bends in class. She was referring to more intense backbends like Upward Bow, which at the time I did not put into an introductory/beginner class.

Anyway, I said to her, “what about the 50 plus up dogs that you just did?”  I received a look that seemed like she did not appreciate my "check mate".

Up Dog is a fantastic back bending posture, and is one of the most frequently practiced postures in Ashtanga Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga.  Having a polished Upward Facing Dog Pose is a prerequisite for deeper back bend and it seems is ofter overlooked in the rush to get to the more "advanced" postures.

Let's be careful though, not to put the cart before the horse.  Practice patience, and make sure that we are bettering our basics first.

Even though this is a fundamental/basic posture there are quite a few details that are ofter overlooked.  Below are some.

• Make sure that your feet are not too far away from your hands beginning first in Plank.
• And then lowering from plank to Chaturanga the chest is out in front of the hands.
• Which then set up the hands to be directly under the shoulder in Up Dog.

For more details come on in to class!

See you soon.

​Jason

Side Angle Pose is in almost every Vinyasa class at Detroit Yoga, as well as a very similar variation practiced always in Ashtanga class. A fundamental asana, Parsvakonasana opens the hips and prepares the body for more challenging postures down the road. 

That said,  it's important to set goals, like after polishing up the basics/fundamentals, getting to a more challenging/advanced posture, but as students at DY know, I am a big fan of practicing the basics. If that's all we ever did we'd be in great shape, both physically and mentally. But don't worry, I'll definitely throw more challenges at you!  :)

A few details regarding this variation of  Side Angle Pose pictured here... 

1. Most beginners with tighter hips will not be able to lunge so low until they invested many hours of practice. Be patient.
2. If the lunge is higher, then the hand at the floor will also be higher. Perhaps on the finger tips or a yoga block.
3. Keep the back leg straight and strong. Don't let the knee buckle.

An advanced technique is a basic one that's been mastered.  Keep going.

See you in class!

Jason
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This variation of Bhujapidasana is definitely challenging and demands more concentration than the more popular and perhaps beginner/1st phase variation pictured here. Both will most likely take a few years of patient and persistent practice to polish up. 

Just like everything else in Yoga practice it comes with practice, and not just practicing this particular posture, but also many other postures, like the open hips of Upavishta Konasana and Baddha Konasana combined with the strength of Chaturanga Dandasana for example.  

The old cliche holds true... It's not so much the destination that reaps the greatest rewards, but the journey. In this case the "journey" of showing up consistently, learning to breathe calmly every time you fall over and/or face discomfort, as well as developing a body that is both strong and supple, that can more easily take and recover from life's inevitable blows.

​Even if you never get to this particular "destination" of Bhujapidasana, it is certainly the "journey" that is going bring the most benefits into your life and relationships.

Keep going.

​Jason

To view a video demonstration of Bhujapidasana click here.

Side Plank / Vasisthasana is not only a static posture that we hold/stay in at Detroit Yoga, but also often use as a transition to get from one position/posture to another.  A demonstration of such a transition can be viewed here.

Like everything else, Side Plank takes time to develop, so be patient.  A beginner modification can be dropping the bottom knee to the floor under the hip for support.  And after some persistent practice this modification will no longer be needed.  

I have witnessed so many new students struggle with this posture in the beginning that just kept showing up and never quit, who now practice it effortlessly.  In the process, not only did they build a stronger upper body, but also developed the skill of breathing calmly in difficult situations as well as experience what happens when one perseveres through the seemingly impossible.

The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.

Keep going.

Jason


To watch a video tutorial going over Side Plank / Vasisthasana as well as other practice videos or to receive hands on guidance by enrolling in our classes locally click on the buttons below.
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Bakasana / Crane Pose is one of many postures practiced at Detroit Yoga that can be achieved by anyone with enough patience, persistence, and consistent effort.  It's not complicated but not easy.

We should all voluntarily practice something every day that demands our complete attention.  Crane definitely does that for us.  

String Crane together with other Ashtanga / Vinyasa postures and movements that are a little more or less demanding during a quiet one hour class, where one can clearly hear the quality of their breathing and monitor the quality of their thoughts, two or three or more times each week, and the skill of being completely present combined with the endurance of being calm under pressure is built more and more.  

After years of practice, what may have started as just a physical exercise has now transformed the individual into a more attentive and less reactive (or over-reactive) member of the family, workplace, and community.  

Yoga practice doesn't cost, it pays.

Keep going.

​Jason


To watch a video demonstration with more commentary on Crane Pose / Bakasana click here.

To watch a video tutorial going over Paschimottanasana or to receive hands on guidance by enrolling in our classes locally click on the buttons below.

Paschimottanasna (Intense Western Stretch) is definitely one where the metaphor of "a steady drip of water hollows out stone" (i.e. patience & persistence) applies.

So many begin their Yoga practice with the torso and the legs at a 90 degree angle due to tight hamstrings.  Perhaps due to many years of sports without much stretching or sitting in a chair all day at school and/or work for years (or both).

Not to worry, the hamstrings can lengthen out again and remove strain from your back.  But it will take time.  Give it about 8 to 12 months of consistent practice to start seeing significant change.  There will be no immediate gratification here.  No short cuts.

The hardest part is showing up.  Greater than the reward of of having a stronger and more supple body is becoming the one who did not quit.  Once you develop that muscle you can apply it to any seemingly insurmountable challenge that confronts you.

Keep going.

~ Jason

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To watch a video demonstration of Paschimottanasana linked together with other postures in Vinyasa Yoga click here.

To watch a video tutorial going over Paschimottanasana or to receive hands on guidance by enrolling in our classes locally click on the buttons below.