Are You Grounded?

At ReflectionsOnYoga.com, our blogger, Laura poses a simple question. In mountain pose (Tadasana) where do the feet go? Typically, the teacher will tell you to place them hip-width apart. But Laura says she has been instructed in at least twelve different ways to place her feet in this pose. Who’s right? Well, the bottom line may just lie in what feels right to you, and this should apply to every pose. Outside of placing your feet in a harmful or painful position, maybe the best thing to ask yourself before any asana is, “Do I feel grounded?” What this blogger has come to believe is that each teacher puts a slightly different spin on each pose, so just stick to what feels right for you. See reflectionsonyoga.blogspot.com.

Anti-Gravity Yoga

Jess Gronholm, an instructor at Crunch Fitness in New York, has created a fun new class for those who don’t mind being suspended in mid-air while doing yoga. Each student uses a hammock (able to hold up to a thousand pounds) to do poses that might otherwise be impossible on the mat. The class is actually a combination of yoga, dance, Pilates, and strength conditioning that Gronholm says can improve body alignment and release joint tension. According to the students, feeling weightless and doing flips is fun. Maybe this will be the latest new trend in yoga. What’s one more anyway? Here’s a video of an anti-gravity class in action: news10now.com.

Yoga Parenting

Yes, we all know that there are many yoga centers across the country now offering classes for kids. And that’s great. But a class in St. Louis at the Brentwood Center of Health, called “YogaKids” emphasizes “Yogi Parenting,” which involves more than child’s pose; it’s a full-spectrum approach to life. The class joins kids and parents together for yoga-like lessons, such as learning to be in the present, or learning how to control anxiety. “It’s about understanding the mind of a child,” says Suzanne Tucker, a staunch believer in the program, who has reaped its benefits with her children. You can read about her story at stltoday.com.