"Body Prayer"

Seane Corn, one of my teachers and co-founder of "Off the Mat, Into the World," demonstrates the power of asana as an offering:

Stages to Pincha Myrasana

Tackling Tadasana

Before I start posting "how to" video demos, it's important that you know the basics of one of the most important poses in yoga - Tadasana. It means "Mountain Pose," and it is the blue print for all of our standing poses. This means that the alignment principles of Tadasana will show up in nearly every other pose we do.

Tadasana may seem like a boring pose at first, but there's actually a lot going on. You're stacking bone, over bone, over bone and the body is in perfect alignment. And to find that alignment, always start with the foundation (parts of the body connected to the Earth) and work your way up.

Feet- straight and parallel, either hips distance apart or big toes touching. A good way to find straight feet is draw a straight line forward from the center of the ankle to the second toe. Equal weight through all four corners of feet.

Ankles - lift inner and outer ankles evenly

Knee caps and thighs - lifted and engaged

Tailbone - draws in, front hip points lift

All four sides of torso - lengthen up evenly

Shoulders - draw towards each other on the back and relax away from the ears

Arms - lengthening down, extend through fingertips

Draw ears back in line over shoulders, chin parallel to Earth

*Should be stacking ankles, knees, hips and shoulders

Try Tadasana as often as you can throughout the day... in line at the grocery store, in conversation with a friend, cooking, etc. It may feel strange at first, but your body will thank you later. And if you can really commit these alignment points to memory, you'll have a much clearer understanding of the other poses we explore in this blog.

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

"The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" is an ancient text comprising 196 short statements about yoga philosophy. There are 4 chapters that highlight concentration, practice, progress and liberation through the eight limbs.

Not much is known about the author, Patanjali, but he is often regarded as "the father of yoga." Yogis are thankful that he took the time to record the sutras to be passed down through the generations. Every yoga system in existence has roots in Patanjali's teachings.

Yoga & Vampires?

For all you "True Blood" fans out there...Check out the lovely Kathryn Budig:

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

One of the most important things to know about yoga is that there are eight limbs or paths of yoga. They serve as a guideline for living a purposeful life. Here's a very brief overview of each one.

1. Yama - Our behavior towards others and the world. Living as an example of kindness, truthfulness, sustainability, and moderation.

2. Niyama - Self-discipline through cleanliness, contentment, daily spiritual practices, self-study and continued connection to our own divinity.

3. Asana- Physical poses. This is what you'll encounter most often in a public yoga class held at a studio or gym. All physical styles of yoga fall under the umbrella of "Hatha Yoga." Examples include Vinyasa Flow, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Anusara, Jivamukti, Restorative, etc.

4. Pranayama - Breathing exercises. Helpful for expanding our breath capacity and maintaining the flow of energy through the body. Some breath practices may be applied to asana practice. "Light on Pranayama" by BKS Iyengar is a great reference!

5. Pratyahara - Control of the senses. This limb begins the work of turning inward. Drawing our awareness away from the external and objectively observing ourselves and our habits.

6. Dharana - Concentration. Each stage prepares us for the next. Now we focus our attention on a single point, slowing down our thinking process in preparation for the next limb, Dhyana.

7. Dhyana - Meditation or Contemplation. An uninterrupted flow of Dharana. There are so many different styles of meditation; each involves aspects of a still, quiet, and focused mind.

8. Samadhi - Enlightenment! Yippee!! Disciplined practice of the previous seven limbs may produce periods of ecstasy. I call them "mini-samadhi moments." A moment where we transcend our physical bodies and live in a state of interconnectedness with all things. Yoga means "union," and we are striving for an authentic sense of oneness. There is no "you and me," only "us." :)

To learn more about the Eight Limbs, check out this article by Mara Carrico, a writer for Yoga Journal.com.

Below you'll find a neat chant that will help you remember the eight limbs!

"How Can I Learn More?"

A lot of my students ask, "How can I learn more about yoga?" They are intrigued by the beginnings of their physical practice and want to go deeper. In the past, my usual response was "Try a yoga training or workshop!" Though, I realize that's not an option for everyone considering time commitments and financial restraints. So where to start as an alternative? Right here. :)

This blog was created with you in mind- the student looking for resources regarding everything yoga. Here, we'll address not only the physical aspects of the practice, but also breathing techniques, meditation, and yogic philosophy as well.

I'm happy to take any questions you have about topics you're most curious about exploring, so please feel free to contact me at meganridge@me.com and I'll do my best to answer your question right here!