1. When transitioning from child’s pose (balasana) to downdog (adho mukha svanasana), try keeping the head in the same location without moving it forward.  The back will feel a good stretch.

    When transitioning from child’s pose (balasana) to downdog (adho mukha svanasana), try keeping the head in the same location without moving it forward. 

    The back will feel a good stretch.

  2. Knees to the chest; Heels to the bottom.  When lifting off for handstand, do this for the leg that hops.  You will float up effortlessly.  You can also do knees to the chest; heels to the bottom, when hopping up with both legs. This takes more strength in the core (and I can’t do it yet). Advice comes from Kathryn Budig on Yoga Journal.

    Knees to the chest; Heels to the bottom. 

    When lifting off for handstand, do this for the leg that hops. 

    You will float up effortlessly. 

    You can also do knees to the chest; heels to the bottom, when hopping up with both legs. This takes more strength in the core (and I can’t do it yet).

    Advice comes from Kathryn Budig on Yoga Journal.

  3. Put your fingertips over your eyelids, against the sides of the nose, and at the tips of the mouth. Plug the thumbs into the ears. You are quieting down the senses- seeing, smelling, hearing, (and speaking). 

    Put your fingertips over your eyelids, against the sides of the nose, and at the tips of the mouth. Plug the thumbs into the ears. You are quieting down the senses- seeing, smelling, hearing, (and speaking). 

  4. “Balanced Fold”:  keeping the back straight, bring the legs against your torso. (Does this pose have a name?) If the hamstrings are tight and need to be stretched, bring the hands a bit lower down the calves. 

    “Balanced Fold”:  keeping the back straight, bring the legs against your torso. (Does this pose have a name?) If the hamstrings are tight and need to be stretched, bring the hands a bit lower down the calves. 

  5. From tripod headstand, bring the legs down, rest them on the upper arms. Relax the weight onto the arms, lifting the head off. Bakasana, crow pose!

    From tripod headstand, bring the legs down, rest them on the upper arms. Relax the weight onto the arms, lifting the head off. Bakasana, crow pose!

  6. Walking into tripod headstand. Inch the feet forward until you can tip the hips over. Then start to lift the toes off the floor. 

    Walking into tripod headstand. Inch the feet forward until you can tip the hips over. Then start to lift the toes off the floor. 

  7. drawing inspired by downdog but not really yoga… This is how I feel sometimes - trying to touch all points in a game of Twister with not enough limbs, feeling insecure about myself and the future.  One thing to keep in mind is to always CONFRONT THE PROBLEM. But then again, maybe we just need someone to talk to, or, some ice cream and a hug. 

    drawing inspired by downdog but not really yoga…

    This is how I feel sometimes - trying to touch all points in a game of Twister with not enough limbs, feeling insecure about myself and the future. 

    One thing to keep in mind is to always CONFRONT THE PROBLEM.

    But then again, maybe we just need someone to talk to, or, some ice cream and a hug. 

  8. The forearms push against the floor. 

    The forearms push against the floor. 

  9. One trick to balancing: If the body feels like it’s about to fall down (the direction you came from), push the clasped hands stronger against the back of the skull.  If you are about to fall back (going over in the direction you cam up), then loosen the clasped hands against the head.  In this way, the hands help regulate your balance.

    One trick to balancing: If the body feels like it’s about to fall down (the direction you came from), push the clasped hands stronger against the back of the skull. 

    If you are about to fall back (going over in the direction you cam up), then loosen the clasped hands against the head. 

    In this way, the hands help regulate your balance.

  10. One trick to balancing: If the body feels like it’s about to fall down (the direction you came from), push the clasped hands stronger against the back of the skull. 

    If you are about to fall back (going over in the direction you cam up), then loosen the clasped hands against the head. 

    In this way, the hands help regulate your balance.