Everyday Yoga Reminder

Just a reminder that I’d love to be able to put out the janu sirsasana photo post on February 1 if I get at least 2 more submissions. If you’re wanting to maximize your set-up-the-camera-and-do-this-thing results for the hassle, the picture posts for March and April are at that same link.

You can upload your pics yourself and post a link in the comments here. Or, if it’s easier or otherwise preferable, you can email them to me at anytimeyoga@gmail.com.

One New Thing: When you submit your pics, would you also let me know whether you’d be okay using yours as the “preview image” on any Facebook links? I realize that agreeing to let your pic be here is not the same as agreeing to let your pic be on Facebook — and so I will default to “no” unless you specify otherwise — but I’m also feeling a little awkward about always (or nearly always) using my own self as the preview pic.

Thanks, everyone!

Everyday Yoga 2013

At the last Everyday Yoga discussion post, the consensus seemed to be that pictures would be more manageable if folks could take pictures for multiple poses at a go. So this is going to be the list for the February, March, and April installments of Everyday Yoga.

I’ll aim to post each installment on the first of its respective month. That said, if I don’t get a certain number of contributions — let’s say three, including my own? — by that time, I’ll delay the picture post until I have enough. You’re welcome to submit photos all at once or whenever you have them, whichever is more convenient for you.

The List:

• February 1 — Janu Sirsasana/Seated Head-to-Knee Pose
• March 1 — Balasana/Child’s Pose
• April 1 — Urdhva Mukha Svanasana/Upward Facing Dog

Each pose in slightly more detail:

An Internet-found written pose guide for janu sirsasana, along with a YouTube video:

[Video from Yoga Journal. Obtained via YouTube.]

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Then the child’s pose written guide and a video, chosen for its plethora of variations:

[Liz McDonald instructing. Video via YouTube.]

___________________________________________

Finally, text and photo instructions for up dog, along with an up dog video:

[Anna instructing for bananasplityoga. Video via YouTube.]

____________________________________________

This would also the place to ask questions or offer additional modifications of the poses, to give folks the maximum choice in their picture taking.

For submissions, you can either comment with them here, or else you can email them to anytimeyoga@gmail.com.

Everyday Yoga: Chair Pose Pics

Purpose, in brief: Everyday Yoga is a project designed to show how a wider variety of bodies look in various yoga poses. The cover of Yoga Journal is spectacular, yes, but it’s not the only way to do yoga.

Picture policy, in brief: Please do not copy or reuse these images without permission. Additionally, please refrain from body or pose policing.

You can find more details at the Everyday Yoga page, also linked at the top of this blog.

Now, pictures!

First up, Laura’s front view:

Front view of Laura in chair pose.

And then the profile shot:

Side view of Laura in chair pose.

Lisa and I managed only profile shots, but that’s okay:

Lisa from Virginia in chair pose.

Though looking back at my photo library, I notice that I grabbed shots with two arm variations. The first is the one I use if I know I’m going to be holding chair for a few breaths or more:

Tori’s first chair pose.

And the one I use if I know I’m not going to be there for more than a breath or two:

Tori’s other chair pose.

Yes, that really is as far as my shoulders go.

We always welcome new participants. Currently, however, calls for submissions are on hold while we do some rethinking on how to make the process more manageable for contributors or potential contributors. Please join the discussion there if you’re so inclined!

Everyday Yoga: Reminders and Rethinking

First off, a quick reminder that the ideal deadline for chair pose submissions is December 15, 2012. You can post pics in the comments here or email them to anytimeyoga@gmail.com.

Next, I’m noticing that, regardless of the total number of photos, most of the last few picture posts have included pics from only two or three different people. Which, I’m not saying this with the intention of making anyone who did or did not submit feel bad — but rather as a way of pointing out that maybe I should be rethinking the way I organize/promote/etc. Everyday Yoga.

A couple of thoughts in that respect, on which I’d like some feedback:

1. Is the twice-a-month photo-taking a time crunch for you? I mean, I know that even with physical and time space dedicated to daily practice, setting up my webcam for video/pictures of that practice — or even part of it — is pretty darn clunky. Would changing the photo post/submission schedule to something like once per month be more manageable for contributors and potential contributors?
2. Also, is forgetting a factor? If I’ve nearly forgotten at least a couple of times, then there is definitely the room for someone else to do so as well? Would additional reminders help as well?

Thanks for letting me know!

Everyday Yoga: Lunges, Multiple Flavors

Ha. So I totally left both the post-compiling and my own picture-taking until the last minute. And it’s not even the real “holiday rush” yet. Go me!

Anyway, for folks new to this, please check out the Everyday Yoga page for background, nearly current post roundup, and general photo and commenting policies.

Now — lunge pictures!

Laura sent in both a front view and a side view of her low lunge.

Laura in low lunge.

Profile view of Laura in low lunge.

Given the constraints of my webcam and rather small room, I only managed a good side shot.

Tori in low lunge.

I don’t always take the backbendy variation of the pose, but as it’s one I’ve been working into practice of late, it’s the variation I’ve been taking recently.

Laura also submitted a couple of photos of high lunge.

Front view of Laura in high lunge.

Profile view of Laura in high lunge.

And my own profile-only high lunge.

Tori in high lunge.

That’s all for this round, though you’re highly encouraged to submit a chair pose picture for next time.

Everyday Yoga Call for Submissions: Utkatasana

Despite it being a classic Pose I Love to Hate, utkatasana — chair pose — is one I’ve found myself taking rather frequently recently. Mostly, I’ve been looking for a quickish way to heat up my glutes, hamstrings, and quads. (Verdict: This works.) Currently, I’m curious as to how different people might take and/or embody the pose differently.

Reasonably good video instructions on the basic pose:

[Esther Ekhart instructing for yogatic/Ekhart Yoga. Video via YouTube.]

Some modifications with which I’m familiar:

Arms:

• Keeping the arms extended forward, in prayer at the heart, or on the hips.
• Keeping the hands pressing into the thighs.

The first set of options tends to be useful accommodating varying degrees of shoulder tightness (including me!). The last one works with shoulder tightness as well as people who may need to support part of their torso and/or upper body.

Legs:

• Experiment with the stance. Feet might be all the way together; they might be hip width apart.
• If you prefer the wider stance but also like the support from the legs-pressing-together feeling, it can help to use a block. To do it, take a block just above your knees and set it to whatever width comfortably fits, get down into chair pose, and squeeze the block evenly with your thighs (i.e., don’t just pinch with your knees). This should create some resistance, which can give some more stability to the pose. If no block widths work, another option is to roll up a small blanket or towel for some softer — but more adjustable — resistance.
• If bending deeply into the pose doesn’t work for the knees or the low back, it’s totally okay to just not sink as far down.

If anyone knows of additional modifications to share, please feel free to post them here.

As for picture contributions, the deadline for this round will be Saturday, December 15, 2012. You can leave a comment here with links to your pics, or you can email them to anytimeyoga@gmail.com. Thanks!

Everyday Yoga: Downward Facing Dog

If you’re not sure what Everyday Yoga is, please do check out the background and image/commenting policies. And everyone — have some pics!

Me, I’m cheating a bit and recycling a down dog image I had for another post. Because efficiency is just laziness put to good use.

Tori in down dog.

Fortunately, Laura made up for my laziness by sending in two pics, one from the side:

Side view of Laura in down dog.

And the other from the front:

Front view of Laura in down dog.

If you’re interested in participating in Everyday Yoga — and to help get the scheduling back on track — I’d love for you to send me your lunge pics — including any and all variations of floor and chair lunges — by November 30. I’ll post a different call for submissions at that time, and we’ll all have big fun.

Double Submission Reminder

Everyday Yoga is back up and running!

Only I still need photo submissions for down dog and lunge before I can post.

If you haven’t submitted and can find the time and other resources, I would certainly appreciate you doing so. Thanks!

Everyday Yoga: Double Reminder

Due to outside circumstances (i.e., my life offline), there will be no Everyday Yoga installment this time around.

If you’re interested in contributing, you can do so by submitting pics of yourself in either or both of the two most recent featured poses: Downward Facing Dog and Lunges of various flavors.

Submissions for both close on November 15, 2012. I’ll start posting the photo sets as soon as they’re compiled.

Also, I was wrong.

Regarding what I said a couple of days ago, on there not being chair modifications of yoga lunges. Some quick searching has turned up a couple of videos, though sadly, the sound is not so great.

The kneeling version:

[Kira Ryder instructing for Lulu Bandha's yoga studio. Video via YouTube.]

My knees are kind of side-eying that block and might want to use a pillow instead, but that’s maybe just my knees, who have been finicky lately.

The standing version:

[Julie Downey instructing. Video via YouTube.]

While the twist shown would increase the hip flexor stretch, it is a completely optional element.

Everyday Yoga Call for Submissions: Lunges

Knees down, knees up. With blocks, without. Whatever kind of lunge you want to submit for — whether it’s the version you take most often, the version you enjoy the most, or a version that’s currently troubling you.

There are basically 4 lunge versions that I know of:

1. Low Lunge with Knee Down, as shown in this video:

   
   [Cathie Ryder instructing for Expert Village. Video via YouTube.]

2. Kneeling Crescent Lunge, which is a lot like the first version but with the hands raised above the head. That shift does move the torso in space, which can recruit different muscles and stretch in different areas and intensities.

   
   [Nora Forziati instructing for Expert Village. Video via YouTube.]

3. High Lunge with Knee Raised but hands still on the ground or on block-type props.

   
   [Elizabeth Rose instructing for Expert Village. Video via YouTube.]

4. Standing Crescent Lunge, with back knee raised and arms lifted.

   
   [Chelsey Korus instructing for Howcast. Video via YouTube.]

I’m not currently aware of any chair options for lunges, but I will keep looking.

Additionally, SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT — Due to some happy but time consuming events taking place for me at the end of this month, I don’t think I’ll be able to commit to editing in any day-before (or even two-day-before) submissions this time around. Because of that, I’m just going to go ahead and set the lunge submission deadline for Thursday, November 15, 2012.

And just to be clear, you’re welcome to submit pics for as many different lunge variations as you want — particularly if the month long wait is excruciating, and you get bored.

To submit pics, you can either email them to anytimeyoga@gmail.com or upload them yourself (to your Flickr or wherever) and comment here with the link.

Down Dog Submission Reminder

An extraneous photo of one Actual Dog. The other Actual Dog got wise and ran away from the camera.

Don’t disappoint a small dog! Take your down dog picture today!

If you’re participating in this round of Everyday Yoga, the preferred submission deadline is this Monday, October 15. You can submit pics to anytimeyoga@gmail.com. Thanks!

Everyday Yoga: Cobra

If you’re not sure what this whole Everyday Yoga thing is, you can check out the Everyday Yoga page. For now, cobras!

Well, um, us. In cobra. But you get it.

Tori in low cobra.

This is my cobra, like, 90% of the time I do it. It’s more beneficial to me to lift entirely with strength from my torso (back, abs, pelvis), even if it means staying lower. On the odd occasion that I take a higher cobra, this is what it looks like:

Tori in high cobra.
I do usually look straight ahead, but for some reason, my webcam pictures of those moments are even fuzzier. So.

Laura actually submitted the same two variations of her cobra. First, a more strength-focused one with her hands off the ground:

Laura in low cobra.

And a higher cobra, with more of a flexibility focus:

Laura in high cobra.

And blogromp’s cobra, shared with us via Flickr:

If you’re interested in participating in the next round of Everyday Yoga, there’s a current call for down dog submissions.

Everyday Yoga Call for Submissions: Downward Facing Dog

Because, let’s face it, it just doesn’t feel like a yoga project without down dog. And because it gives me an excuse to post extraneous pictures of my real dogs.

An extraneous photo of one Actual Dog. The other Actual Dog got wise and ran away from the camera.

Also, more seriously, because it’s a pose with a lot of different things going on physically — which means, consequently, a lot of room for variation.

There’s a text tutorial at this link. For some additional explanation and troubleshooting, Amber at Body Positive Yoga has a guide for beginners and plus size yogis.

Additionally, here’s a video tutorial:

[Video by Yoga Journal via YouTube.]

And one with a few chair and wall options:

[April Kirkhart instructing for Expert Village. Video via YouTube.]

When you get the chance, email your down dog pic to me at anytimeyoga@gmail.com. We’re looking to have this installment’s pictures in by October 15, 2012.

Cobra Reminder

Just a heads up… If you’re submitting a cobra photo for Everyday Yoga — I know, I know, I still need to take mine too — the preferred deadline is this Sunday, September 30.

Also as of right now, it’s looking like I’ll need at least one more picture in order to do a photo post this time around. Otherwise, I’ll extend the deadline through October 15.

You may email pictures to anytimeyoga@gmail.com.

Everyday Yoga: Plank

First off, Everyday Yoga now has its own page on the blog. If you’re reading directly on the blog, you should be able to see it on the menu bar under the dog in a box and above this post. Which is awesome because: 1) we get to see all the posts together in one place; 2) I no longer have to repeat all of the rules on each photo post.

So now, rules — the short version: Don’t take pics that don’t belong to you. And don’t police bodies here.

And now… plank pics!

Laura in plank pose.

Tori in plank pose.

And now with bonus feature… blogromp’s plank!

Everyday Yoga Call for Submissions: Cobra

I realize that after all the planking goodness we’re about to experience (tomorrow!), the next logical photo pose post might be one for chaturanga. While I’ll undoubtedly backtrack to it sometime soonish, I’m going to skip it for now — for a couple of reasons:

1. It is still fuck all hot over here, which means my desire to hold total-body strength poses is limited. We just did plank; I need a break.
2. I have a very particular fascination with the different manifestations of cobra.

As this is my blog — and as no one has requested otherwise — I’m going to go with what I want.

Which is, this time, cobra.

The best Creative Commons-friendly cobra picture I can find is this:

Which, that particular expression of the pose would probably not do it for my low back and would definitely not do it for my neck. And that’s part of why I’m so interested in the posture — because I see a lot of individual variation, though I’m not sure how much is according to what people feel versus what look they might be trying to achieve. For me, I know my cobra has evolved over the years according to those two variables.

Some of that variation is nicely evident in these two pose tutorials. (I think the first tutorial is more complete and detailed, but I wanted to include a picture like the one in the second link.)

For folks wanting video:

[Amy Pancake instructing for Expert Village. Video via YouTube.]

Especially if you’re newer to cobra — and maybe even if it’s a pose you’ve been practicing for a while — it might be worth experimenting with different versions of cobra before taking your pic in the one that feels most like you.

If all goes well, cobra submissions will be due September 30, 2012. You can email pics to anytimeyoga@gmail.com.

Plank Submission Reminder

Like the title says.

If you were planning to submit a plank photo for Everyday Yoga, please do so by September 15.

The submission email address is anytimeyoga (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thank you!

Everyday Yoga: Reviving Plank

Now that the uttanasana pics are up, I’m reviving the plank call for submissions I’d previously placed on hold. Please feel free to rock your upper body and core strength and send me the photographic evidence — if you’re interested, that is.

You can email pics to anytimeyoga@gmail.com or comment here with a link to where I can find your already existent photo. The deadline for this one is September 15.

Merci.

Everyday Yoga: Uttanasana

Photo Policy: The photos in this post belong to the people who submitted them. While I have permission to share them in this series, please contact the individual owners of said pics for permission to repost.

Commenting Policy: The bodies pictured in this post belong to the people who inhabit them. Body policing is icky, and we’re not into that here. Additionally, while this is a sharing post, it’s not necessarily a pose-critiquing post. Please refrain from doing so unless folks have explicitly okayed it.

Tori in uttanasana.

Just like in the ardha uttanasana post, I should point out that this is an uttanasana from a part of my practice where I’m already warmed up.

Lisa from Virginia in uttanasana.

And Laura with a front view:

Laura in uttanasana.