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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Blog #21 The Bikram Sit-Up: Pada-Hasthasana

Dear Yogis:

        Alright, so we all know it’s that time of year when it can seem like we’re watching our expanding waistlines and our patience dwindling during the plight of the holiday hustle and bustle. However, never fear, Bikram yoga is here and can offer you two ways to combat these holiday woes!

       A few blogs back we discussed keeping your peace of mind with Savasana, now we’ll be talking about keeping your waistline and core intact with the Bikram sit-up. The interesting thing about these two positions is that they can be taken out of the hot room to be applied in some stressful situations regarding the mind and/or body.

Getting in the posture
            After a well-deserved rest in Savasana and Wind Removing, it’s now time to wurk all parts of your spine in the continued floor series, starting with your first Bikram sit up. Flex your toes towards your nose, inhale arms over the head. Crossing your thumbs and spreading your fingers wide. Inhale arms up, biceps staying with your ears, double exhale, exhale at the top and then exhale again when bending over. Reaching for the toes with your index finger, middle finger and thumb.
Helpful Hints:
-          Try to keep your arms and biceps aligned with your ears, not before or after. This will help to truly work your core, rather than using momentum to push you through the posture
-          Attempt to do the sit-up with fluid like movement. You are liquid.
-          Keep your feet flexed and your chin to your chest.
-          Use this Bikram sit up not as a deterrent to your practice, but as an energy source that moves the blood through your finger tips, to your toes. Revitalizing you for the next posture.
-          Don’t fret if you don’t get it right the first time, there’s plenty more chances to try it in the floor series

Benefits:
-          Stretches the spine and increases flexibility
-          Improves overall circulation and detoxification of the body
-          Strengthens the core

A video for the visual learner is listed below:



the little YogaGal
Baby it’s cold outside, come on in and warm up in the hot room!,

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