Yoga Breakdancing

For my blog this week, I found something a little different. I was looking through cool breakdancing videos and found one of this guy doing what he calls "yoga breakdancing." It is truly amazing. He mixes yoga poses with his breakdancing moves. Throughout the video, he demonstrates strength and fluidity as he easily/quickly switches between poses. He transforms difficult poses into astonishing dance sequences. All I can say is that my new life goal is to be able to dance like this guy!

Yoga for Fatigue

For my blog this week, I read an article about yoga and fatigue. I have currently been suffering from fatigue and can not seem to get enough sleep or have enough energy to get through the day. The article gives tips on some basic poses that can help with fatigue. The first is Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskara. Sun Salutation is a series of poses meant to warm you up and establish a link between your movement an breath. It consists of starting in mountain pose, bringing your arms up to the sky then bending down into a forward fold. From here you step back into a plank, then lower yourself and move into upward facing dog. You then move into downward facing dog. Next bend your knees and step forward into a forward fold. Finally lift halfway up, move back into forward fold, then lift all the way up with your hands towards the sky and bring your hands to your heart. Sun Salutation can be repeated as many times as needed.
The article also explains that forward fold pose, fish pose, and headstands help with fatigue. Fish pose is a pose I have not currently done but it sounds very interesting. To start fish pose, you first lay on your back with bent knees and your arms at your side. You then arch your back and raise it off the ground while pressing down your elbows. The head is then tilted back to rest on the floor. This pose seems like it would be great at opening up your back and diaphragm.
For this next week, I am going to try and do these poses once a day and see if they help with my fatigue.

 http://www.organicauthority.com/health/yoga-for-fatigue.html

Benefits of Headstands/Shoulder stands

For my blog this week, I read an article about headstands and shoulder stands. There area many benefits associated with these two positions. When practicing these positions, your body is inverted. Inversion increases blood flow to your brain and heart.




There are many benefits to practicing shoulder stands, which include curing colds and nasal disturbances, soothing nerves, strengthening upper body, legs, and abdomen,  and stretching neck/shoulder/back muscles. The benefits to practicing headstands include ensuring proper blood flow, rejuvenating thinking power, strengthening spine/neck/shoulder/arm muscles, and relieving colds, coughs, tonsillitis, bad breath, and palpitations. Practicing both positions daily "brings health and vitality to the body while calming and soothing the mind and spirit.

http://www.sunandmoonstudio.com/Articles/headstand.html

Warrior II Pose

 The three warrior poses were made to represent the warrior Virabhadra. Virabhadra, according to Hindu mythology, was a warrior created by a lord named Shiva. Shiva had married the daughter of his enemy. Shiva's enemy, Daksha, never approved of the marriage and there was always animosity between Shiva and Daksha. Shiva's wife, Sati, killed herself because of the fighting between her husband and her father. Shiva was so distraught by his wife's death that he created the fiercest warrior to destroy those who had caused the death of Sati.

 

 The warrior II pose has many benefits. One benefit is that it stretches your hips, groins, and shoulders. Other benefits are that it opens your chest and lungs, it builds stamina and concentration, it energizes tired limbs, helps relieve backaches, and improves circulation and respiration.

http://www.cnyhealingarts.com/2011/06/01/the-health-benefits-of-virabhadrasana-ii-warrior-ii-pose/