​​​​​​​Cheryl Fenner Brown C-IAYT​, E-RYT 500, YACEP
yogacheryl.com
  • CONTACT
    • Chat with Cheryl >
      • Yoga Therapy Consultation
      • Reiki Consultation
      • Teacher Chat
    • Bio
    • Resume'
    • Press
    • Join Mailing List
  • BOOK NOW
  • YOGA
    • Schedule >
      • Yoga Nidra Series
      • Scholarship Application
      • > Prop Recommendations
    • Yoga Therapy
    • Seasonal Self-Care Challenges >
      • 5 Days to Intention & Personal Mantra
      • 21 Days to Spring Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Summer Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Autumn Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Holiday Bliss
    • Introduction to Yoga Course
    • Exploring Your Chakras Course
    • Custom Yoga Nidra
    • Thai Yoga Massage
  • REIKI
    • Reiki Sessions
    • Chakra Balancing Reiki
  • TEACHER TRAINING
    • Mentoring
    • Cancer Teacher Training
    • Yoga Nidra Training (10 hrs)
    • Subtle Practices Training (15 hrs)
  • CANCER
    • Cancer Teacher Training >
      • 60-hr Cancer Certificaiton Training >
        • Cancer Training Intro and Q&A
        • Client Application for Teacher Practicum
      • Cancer Immersions
    • Classes for Patients & Survivors >
      • Private Cancer Facebook Group
    • Private Yoga Therapy for Cancer
    • Teacher Registry
    • Cancer Survivorship Home Practice Course
    • Yoga Nidra for Cancer
    • Articles & Sequences
    • Yoga Research
    • Cancer Patient Resources >
      • Cancer Resource Request Form
  • YOGA NIDRA
    • What is Yoga Nidra?
    • Setting Your Sankalpa
    • Free Body Scan
    • Free Yoga Nidra
    • Buy Yoga Nidra MP3s
    • Yoga Nidra Scripts
    • Yoga Nidra Training (10 hrs)
  • YOGA ENCYCLOPEDIA APP
  • BLOG
  • STORE
  • CONTACT
    • Chat with Cheryl >
      • Yoga Therapy Consultation
      • Reiki Consultation
      • Teacher Chat
    • Bio
    • Resume'
    • Press
    • Join Mailing List
  • BOOK NOW
  • YOGA
    • Schedule >
      • Yoga Nidra Series
      • Scholarship Application
      • > Prop Recommendations
    • Yoga Therapy
    • Seasonal Self-Care Challenges >
      • 5 Days to Intention & Personal Mantra
      • 21 Days to Spring Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Summer Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Autumn Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Holiday Bliss
    • Introduction to Yoga Course
    • Exploring Your Chakras Course
    • Custom Yoga Nidra
    • Thai Yoga Massage
  • REIKI
    • Reiki Sessions
    • Chakra Balancing Reiki
  • TEACHER TRAINING
    • Mentoring
    • Cancer Teacher Training
    • Yoga Nidra Training (10 hrs)
    • Subtle Practices Training (15 hrs)
  • CANCER
    • Cancer Teacher Training >
      • 60-hr Cancer Certificaiton Training >
        • Cancer Training Intro and Q&A
        • Client Application for Teacher Practicum
      • Cancer Immersions
    • Classes for Patients & Survivors >
      • Private Cancer Facebook Group
    • Private Yoga Therapy for Cancer
    • Teacher Registry
    • Cancer Survivorship Home Practice Course
    • Yoga Nidra for Cancer
    • Articles & Sequences
    • Yoga Research
    • Cancer Patient Resources >
      • Cancer Resource Request Form
  • YOGA NIDRA
    • What is Yoga Nidra?
    • Setting Your Sankalpa
    • Free Body Scan
    • Free Yoga Nidra
    • Buy Yoga Nidra MP3s
    • Yoga Nidra Scripts
    • Yoga Nidra Training (10 hrs)
  • YOGA ENCYCLOPEDIA APP
  • BLOG
  • STORE

1/13/2014

0 Comments

Asana: Grounding & Extension

 
In our asana practice all postures have parts of the body that need to ground into the earth, provide stability and create the foundation for the posture. At the same time, there are other parts of the body that are lifting and ascending, extending towards the sky in order to create length and space along the spine. This week we will explore these two concepts of grounding and extension, manifestation and ascension.

Picture
Virasana (Hero Pose)
Sit on block between heels. Ground fronts of shins and tops of feet, thighs, and sit bones. Lift up through navel, chest and crown of head. For Ankle Pain - Kneel on folded blanket with crease of ankles at edge of blanket).
For Knee Pain - Sit higher so knees do not have to bend all the way.


Picture
Bhu Mudra
Curl ring and little finger into palm, secure with thumb, extend index and middle fingers into V shape; point fingers toward the ground. 
Benefits: Activates downward flowing energy in body


Picture
Prana Mudra
Touch tips of thumb, ring, and little fingers together, extend index and middle fingers into V shape.
Benefits: Activates upward flowing prana in body


Picture
Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Big Toe Pose)
Lie on the back with the knees bent.
Variation I: Draw your right knee into your chest and lengthen the left leg onto the floor. Wrap a strap around the ball of your foot and extend the leg into the air. Reach the hands up the strap until the elbows are straight but the shoulders are still grounded.Also ground through back of body and press out through left foot. Extend through spine and heel of right foot
Variation II: Hold the strap in the right hand and place a block on the outside of the right hip. As you exhale, lower the leg directly out to the side so that the outer thigh rests on the block. Extend the foot into the strap and reach the left arm out to the side. Ground through back of body, especially left side of body. Extend through spine, into right heel and left hand. To release, use the inner thigh to draw the leg up to center.
Variation III: Hold the strap in the left hand and slowly bring the leg across the body as you twist. Ground into right shoulder and left half of body. Extend through spine and into right foot. To release, drop the right hip into the floor and allow the leg to follow. Hold each variation for 10-20 breaths.


Picture
Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)
Sit with the soles of the feet together and the knees apart. Sit on the edge of a folded blanket if needed and the knees apart. Ground through sit bones and press heels slightly together as you extend through the spine and out through the knees.
Hold 10-20 breaths then release.


Picture
Janu Sirsasana (Head of the Knee Pose)
Sit on floor with sole of the left foot on inside of right thigh with the right leg straight. Press right leg into floor and extend through ball of right foot. Inhale and sit up tall through front of chest. Exhale turn torso towards right leg and release forward from hips, keeping heart forward and shoulders relaxed. 
Hold up to 1 minute each side, then release.


Picture
Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
Stand with feet hips-width apart. Engage legs and bear weight on left leg only. Draw right foot onto calf or inner thigh (do not press on side of knee). Press foot against leg and leg against foot. Draw belly in and release tail bone towards floor. Inhale and draw arms overhead without gripping shoulders. 
Hold as long as you can balance with comfort, release and change sides.


Picture
Ardha Uttanasana (Half Forward Bend)
Begin standing in Tadasana. Bend forward from hips and place fingertips on either floor, blocks or tops of knees with arms straight. Open heart forward and draw thighs and sit bones back. 
Hold for 10 breaths, release back to standing.


Picture
Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose or Queen's Pose)
Sit in front of two long-fold blankets or a bolster parallel to mat. Place soles of feet together and let knees move apart resting on blocks or bolster. Place looped strap around back of pelvis between thighs and over outside edge of feet to help lengthen low back. Lie back over bolster and place blanket under head. Rest 5-15 minutes, then release

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Cheryl Fenner Brown, C-IAYT
    I am an integrative Yoga Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with beginners, older adults, and cancer patients as well as teaching teachers adaptive asana, pranayama, mudra, sound, and Yoga Nidra to help special populations.
    • Asana
    • Anatomic Focus
    • Chair Yoga
    • Chakras
    • Eight Limbs
    • Koshas
    • Prana Vayus
    • Pranayama
    • Sun & Moon Salutations
    • Therapeutic
    • Vowel Spiral
    • Yoga for Cancer 
    • Yoga Nidra
    • 2015 India Trip

    Categories

    All
    Asana Practices
    Breath Practices
    Healing Yoga For Cancer
    India
    Mudra Practices
    The Chakras
    The Vayus
    Yamas & Niyamas
    Yogic Reflections

    Archives

    March 2025
    January 2025
    September 2022
    August 2021
    August 2020
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2011
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    July 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006


    RSS Feed

    I attend Cheryl's class regularly and feel that my practice has improved immensely over the past few years due to her expert coaching. Her teaching style is clear and compassionate and her previous experience in teaching adults is evident in her organized approach and easy to understand instructions. I also appreciate that Cheryl not only teaches us about how to correctly position ourselves, but also touches on many aspects of yoga philosophy, which in turn has deepened my personal practice and heightened my awareness of the connection between mind and body, breath and relaxation.​
    - L.G.

Vertical Divider

​Chat with Cheryl
   |   ​Bio   |   Press
Contact   |   ​Join Mailing List
Vertical Divider

​Classes & Workshops
   |   Self-Care Courses   |   ​Private Yoga Therapy      Reiki
Vertical Divider

​Mentoring   |   Teacher Training
​Yoga for Cancer   |  ​ Yoga Nidra

Yoga Encyclopedia App
​
​Blog   |    ​​Store   |    Malas  


Picture