​​​​​​​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

11/24/2014

0 Comments

Downward Facing Dog - Arm Loop

 
This week I riffle through the old mental files to an Anusara yoga class from many years ago where I learned from Maritza all about the loops and spirals of Anusara's alignment principles. As we continue to refine the upper body positioning that creates ease in weight bearing postures such as Downward Facing Dog, remember to work mindfully so that we are not adding tension to the shoulder area. 

Gentle Backbend with Arms Overhead

Lie on the back with a long-folded blanket beneath the bottom tips of the shoulder blades, right beneath the bra line. Rest the upper shoulder and head on the floor and keep the knees bent at first. Use a looped strap that is as wide as the chest and place the wrists inside the strap. Raise the arms in front of the body keeping the palms facing inwards and the arms parallel to each other. Continue to move the arms over the head within a comfortable range of motion. Reach from the underside of the shoulder blade to the pinkie fingers and from the crook between the index finger and thumb draw the inner shoulder blades down the back. 

Picture


Picture
Seated Lateral Bend

Begin seated cross-legged and place the left hand on the floor beside the hip. Inhale and raise the right arm diagonally across the body and reach it overhead to the left. Bend the left elbow towards the body and keep that shoulder released down the back to help support the weight of the body. Keep both sit bones grounded into the floor. Exhale and return to the center. Repeat to both sides 5-10 times with the breath.
Therapeutics: Opens side rib cage and facilitates breath throughout the torso. Gently warms up the low back and shoulders.


Elevator Doors

From a sitting position, raise the arms out to the sides with the elbows bent and forearms vertical in a cactus position. As you inhale draw the shoulder blades together to open the arms. As you exhale draw the forearms together in front of the face engaging the Serratus Anterior muscles beneath the shoulder blades that help to pin the shoulder blades low and wide on the back.

Picture
Plank Pose

From all fours extend the legs back one at a time and turn the toes under so that the knees are off the floor. Draw the shoulder blades down the back and reach the sternum forward keeping the frame of the shoulder strong. Engage the belly and lengthen back towards the heels. 
Therapeutics: Strengthens the shoulders and core.


Downward Facing Dog with a Chair

Stand in front of the seat of a chair and bend forward holding the sides of the seat with the hands wrapped around underneath. Step the feet back and extend the arms over the head but do not allow the head to drop below the arms. Keep the shoulders wide on the back as you press the hips back, knees can be bent or straight with the weight of the hips over the heels. 
Therapeutics: Stretches the shoulders, lengthens hamstrings, provides traction for the spine, and encourages good alignment for Downward Facing Dog.

Picture
Viniyoga Warrior I
Viniyoga Virabhadrasana I

Begin standing in Tadasana. Step left leg back about three feet keeping feet hips width apart. Keep right toes turned forward and left foot turned slightly out. Turn hips gently towards front foot and balance weight on both feet. Bring arms up into cactus position and as you inhale bend the front knee over the front ankle and open the elbows wide, then exhale and draw the forearms together and straighten the front knee. Repeat moving in and out of the posture 3-5 times with the breath. Then inhale the arms overhead and exhale and bend right knee and hold Draw belly up and release tail bone towards floor. 
Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides.
Therapeutics: Opens front body and psoas, strengthens legs, improves balance.


Picture
Standing Wide-Legged Forward Bend
Prasarita Padottanasana 


Stand with feet wide apart. Bend forward from hips placing hands between feet. Release spine forward with crown of head facing floor. Hold up to 1 minute, then return to standing by drawing hands onto hips and lifting entire torso up as a single unit.

Picture
Supported Heart Opener
Salamba Uttana Merudandasana


Set up two bolsters perpendicular to mat with folded blanket on the one toward the back of the mat. Sit on folded blanket or on floor facing away from bolsters. Lie back so that shoulder blades and upper back are supported by shorted bolster and the head and neck are supported by the taller bolster. The upper line of the shoulders and arms should fall in between the bolsters. If the elbows to not readily reach the floor, support with more folded blankets. Either straighten legs out to floor or rest knees over bolster.
Therapeutics: Opens heart and releases tension across chest, shoulders and neck


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