How do I get my back flat during my streches? I do not have a problem reaching my face to my knees, but I cannot seem to flatten my back. Does not look at all like Rodney Yee's flat back!
practice, practice :-) try to only go down as far as you can with a flat back. during forward folds, think of bringing your stomach and chest down, instead of your face. in time, your legs, hips and low back will allow you to go further down. it's definitely a different stretch than rounding the back. good luck!
I'm a yoga teacher and I never tell my students to flatten their backs. It's important to not let your stomach collapse in forward bends or any pose- your spine needs to be supported. Before you bend forward, roll your thighs in to create space in between your sits bones. Then as you draw your belly in your tailbone will lengthen down into that space you just created. Press the back of your thighs into the floor and bend forward at your hip creases, which should feel soft, if you've rolled your thighs in enough, as opposed to bending in your spine.
Many people think that tons of rigorous workouts help relieve stress. But research shows that it can actually have the opposite effect. Changing up your routine can ease stress more effectively than doing MORE of the same.
You can change your workout routine in many ways including …
When doing fat-burning workouts, change the settings, machine or [...]
Learn the environmental impact of this season's must-have gifts, the importance of remembering to express our feelings and give from the heart, and more in this week's Living Roundup.
We all need a farmer. Someone who who looks us in the eye when she tells us how she feeds her animals, or how can’t offer eggs this week because the free-range hens have laid the eggs somewhere she can’t find them ...
Thinking about Thanksgiving prompted me to write this blog. I saved it to my computer planning to enter it online as soon as I got a chance. Then coincidently I heard a radio interview with psychologist Robert Emmons, author of a book called Thanks. Emmons has spent years studying positive psychology, and in the interview [...]
I train in an almost meditative manner, where my focus is complete. You can do it too with this exercise that can help you start creating new, healthier habits right now, this Thanksgiving week.
Creative ways to give back to the less fortunate on Thanksgiving, Girl Scouts learn how to improve energy efficiency, and more in this week's Living Roundup.
“I feel out of sync with my family of origin around the holidays, when I spend more time with them than usual,” wrote one reader recently. “They aren’t interested in honest communication, working on relationships, or other things that are important to me … How can I deal with this in a positive way?
This question [...]
Believe it or not, research shows that you burn more calories working out outside in the winter than you do in the summer because you use more energy keeping your body warm. Use this must-list to arm yourself with essential cold-weather workout gear to keep you safe, warm and motivated in winter weather.
Looking for a holiday gift for that eco-conscious globetrotter — or a traveler you’d like to help “green up”? Check out these creative yet practical gifts that won’t add too much excess weight to your credit card. And when you shop online, you lighten the burden on the earth by avoiding extra car trips.
1. Carbon [...]