Opening the heart is a common concept in yoga. The idea of opening the heart, or expanding the chest, creates an opening in areas of our body that tend to curl in. It is natural for us to protect our hearts. We do so both literally and figuratively. Our ribcage is exquisitely designed to protect two vital organs: our lungs and our heart. Outside of our skull, nothing else in … [Read more...]
Namaste With Natalia: Plow Pose
Halasana Your Monthly Yoga Pose A stretch known to most is a seated forward fold, legs outstretched and hands holding the feet or reaching toward them. Plow pose, or halasana, is nearly the same posture, only with a different relationship to gravity. The legs are above the body, and the back is connected to the mat. Plow pose has many benefits, and unlike supported … [Read more...]
Namaste With Natalia: Triangle and Revolved Triangle
Photos by Kelly Rodriguez We are three months into 2022. A quarter of the year is about to fly by, and in my opinion, the best month in Florida has arrived. Extended triangle pose and revolved triangle pose for the third month, March 2022! Triangles are the strongest shapes geometrically. In yoga, utthita trikonasana, or extended triangle pose, is a quintessential yoga … [Read more...]
Namaste With Natalia: Big-Toe Posture and Hand-Under-Foot Posture
Padangusthasana and Padahastasana Your Monthly Yoga Pose Our hands and feet are how we touch the world. Our hands feel the world while our feet feel the earth we walk upon. Connecting the two brings about a whole body circuit of energy. A quick Sanskirt translation:“Pada” means foot, “angustha” means big toe, and “hasta” means hands. Hence, big-toe or … [Read more...]
Chocolate! with Heart Opening Yoga Flow- Cacao Ceremony
Ceremonial cacao is a beautiful heart opening plant medicine. Nicknamed the "Plant of the Gods," the cacao, we refer to is “she” is used in many cultures to deepen the connection to spirit. Cacao is pure, soft, bitter-sweet and deep. We will be drinking raw, unprocessed ceremonial grade cacao from Ecuador and then enjoying a 60 minute slow flow yoga class. But back to the … [Read more...]