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

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.

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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