Namaste

Oh, my gosh. Ouch.

I was doing okay this morning but by evening my body is starting to revolt. I went to yoga class on Thursday, and I have been to yoga before but NEVER as strenuous as this. But it’s all good, yo! My teacher rocked and she kept us moving continuously throughout the hour and a half class. Maybe it was that extra half hour that kicked my ass?

I am scared to see how I will feel tomorrow. Isn’t the rumor you always feel it more on the second day? Seriously, even the palms of my hands hurt.

But I loved the yoga place! Everyone was over the top friendly, and as a bonus for me, spoke English! The professor (as they call them in class) even came over to me to introduce herself and find out more about me because it was my first time there. I told her it had been a long time since I had been in a yoga class but she welcomed me with open arms. Want to go? The place is Zunray – C/ Can Brondo, 6 07001 Palma de Mallorca +34 971 57 44 55. Check it out duuuuudes.

And just so we can do some yoga together, how to do the downward dog pose. Ready, steady, yoGO. haha. lame? cmon?!

Downward Facing Dog

Why Downward Facing Dog is one of the most frequently used yoga poses -it often links others together in a flow class. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s simple.

Down Dog encompasses a lot of different body parts; it strengthens the arms and helps with shoulder, back, and hamstring flexibility. Done correctly, Down Dog also gives intermediate students the benefit of an inversion (having hips higher than the heart) before moving on to more challenging poses like Headstand, Handstand, or Forearm Balance. And because it’s used so often, it’s extra-important to get it right.

How: Start on all fours with your wrists about 6 to 12 inches in front of your shoulders. Separate your knees hip-width apart and curl your toes under. Pushing evenly into your palms, lift your knees off the floor. Lift your sit bones toward the ceiling and push the top of your thighs back so that your body looks like an inverted letter “V.”

At first keep knees bent and heels lifted off the floor. Slowly start to straighten your knees–but don’t lock them. Gently begin to move your chest back toward your thighs until your ears are even with your upper arms; don’t let your head dangle. Keep your hips lifting and push strongly into your hands. Lengthen your spine, spread your fingers apart, and breathe for 10 deep breaths.

To come out of the yoga pose, lower your knees to the floor, come onto all fours, and then bring your butt to your heels and forehead to the floor. Practice the pose five times, increasing the number of breaths each time.