by zitavanwees | Dec 24, 2020 | CA Yoga Class Program, Upper Back
Happy Holidays! The end of 2020 is almost here, and I always feel like a nice sequence practice at the end of the year. That is why I decided to share one of my flow (or sequence) classes with you. This sequence class starts with the upper back roll and the backbender for the upper back. After that, we dive right into (most of) the sequence. Please note: this class doesn’t cover the whole sequence, to respect the end time of the life class.
by zitavanwees | Dec 18, 2020 | CA Yoga Class Program, Twists
This class is completely focused on one yoga asana: the Trikonasana. It is a pose that has done so much for me personally, as it really helped to resolve my lower back pain. The Trikonasana is quite a complicated pose, as it asks for you to bring your awareness into various points in your body. The coordination is complex, but with practice, I believe this pose can do a lot of good! Trikonasana strengthens and stabilizes and stabilizes your lower back, it mobilizes your upper back, it releases tension throughout your torso, and it lengthens your hamstrings and calf muscles. It also creates space and support for your breath as it opens up your rib cage.
by zitavanwees | Dec 15, 2020 | CA Yoga Class Program, Upper Back
In this 90″ practice, we will work through the neck and shoulder girdle area, in order to release tension from the superficial muscles (often the trapezius muscle or the levators). With gentle twists, we will create mobility in the cervical and thoracic spine, followed by strengthening exercises to make sure the neck is stabilized. Breathing and the correct use of gravity are encouraged throughout the practice, in order to stay in ‘movement out of relaxation’, rather than ‘movement out of will power’.
by zitavanwees | Dec 5, 2020 | Backbends, CA Yoga Class Program, Hips, Lower Back
The Psoas Muscle has a very direct impact on how well and at ease we can walk, or run. If we sit a lot, the psoas muscle gets shortened, which makes our walk less efficient. The psoas muscle also has a direct connection with our nervous system. If we perceive a threat, our mind sends a signal to the psoas muscle to get ready to become active.
by zitavanwees | Dec 1, 2020 | CA Yoga Class Program, Twists
The Holiday Season is starting (it is currently Thanksgiving in the US), and so I dedicated this class to the act of giving, and receiving. We are going to explore the connection to the abdomen, where we can sense a feeling of grounding, of coming home to oneself. We are also exploring the heart area, which is the area where we typically connect to the outer world, to the sense of space and lightness.
