​​​​​​​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
    • Classes & Workshops >
      • Prop Recommendations
    • Yoga Therapy
    • Online Self-Care Courses >
      • 5 Days to Intention & Personal Mantra
      • 21 Days to Spring Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Autumn Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Holiday Bliss
      • 21 Days to Summer Self-Care
    • Introduction to Yoga Course
    • Exploring Your Chakras Course
    • Custom Yoga Nidra
    • Thai Yoga
  • REIKI
    • Reiki Sessions
    • Chakra Balancing Reiki
  • TRAINING
    • Mentoring
    • Cancer Teacher Training
    • Online Yoga Nidra Training (10 hrs)
    • Subtle Practices Training (15 hrs)
    • Mudra & Sound Training (10 hrs)
  • CANCER
    • Classes for Patients & Survivors >
      • Private Cancer Facebook Group
    • Teacher Training >
      • 50-hr Cancer Certificaiton Training >
        • Cancer Training Checklist
      • Cancer Immersions
    • Teacher Registry
    • Cancer Home Practice Course
    • Yoga Nidra for Cancer
    • Articles & Sequences
    • Yoga Research
    • Cancer Patient Resources >
      • Cancer Resource Request Form
  • YOGA ENCYCLOPEDIA APP
    • Library
  • BLOG
  • STORE
  • CONTACT
    • Chat with Cheryl >
      • Yoga Therapy Consultation
      • Reiki Consultation
      • Teacher Chat
    • Bio
    • Resume'
    • Press
    • Join Mailing List
  • BOOK NOW
  • YOGA
    • Classes & Workshops >
      • Prop Recommendations
    • Yoga Therapy
    • Online Self-Care Courses >
      • 5 Days to Intention & Personal Mantra
      • 21 Days to Spring Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Autumn Self-Care
      • 21 Days to Holiday Bliss
      • 21 Days to Summer Self-Care
    • Introduction to Yoga Course
    • Exploring Your Chakras Course
    • Custom Yoga Nidra
    • Thai Yoga
  • REIKI
    • Reiki Sessions
    • Chakra Balancing Reiki
  • TRAINING
    • Mentoring
    • Cancer Teacher Training
    • Online Yoga Nidra Training (10 hrs)
    • Subtle Practices Training (15 hrs)
    • Mudra & Sound Training (10 hrs)
  • CANCER
    • Classes for Patients & Survivors >
      • Private Cancer Facebook Group
    • Teacher Training >
      • 50-hr Cancer Certificaiton Training >
        • Cancer Training Checklist
      • Cancer Immersions
    • Teacher Registry
    • Cancer Home Practice Course
    • Yoga Nidra for Cancer
    • Articles & Sequences
    • Yoga Research
    • Cancer Patient Resources >
      • Cancer Resource Request Form
  • YOGA ENCYCLOPEDIA APP
    • Library
  • BLOG
  • STORE

9/12/2014

0 Comments

Focus & Balance

 
This week's sequence uses the concept of grounding through the legs to help build focus and balance in both the body and the mind. When balancing be sure to use a drishti, or gaze point. Find something stationary to look at while you are balancing to allow the mind to calm which makes balancing much more easeful.

Picture
Jnana Mudra
Touch the tips of thumb and index fingers together, extend middle, ring and little fingers; rest backs of hands on thighs.
Benefits: Helps with concentration and meditation, helps to calm circular thoughts
Practice Tips: Use when suffering from "monkey mind"


Supta Tadasana w/ Block @ Wall
Lie on the back with the feet against the wall. Place a block between the upper thighs and ground and legs into the earth. Squeeze the thighs into the block and raise the arms over the head but make sure that the lower back does not come too far off of the floor so keep the front ribs heavy. You may place an eyebag over the front ribs to encourage them to soften.

Picture
Supta Vrksasana
Lie on the back with the feet at the wall. Bend the left knee placing sole of the left foot on the inside of the right knee. Extend strongly down through the right straight leg. Keep the pelvis level so that both hip points are equidistant from the floor.


Supta Padangusthasana w/ Two Straps @ Wall
Lie on the back with the feet at the wall. Create a loop with a strap that is as long as your leg from hip to foot and place the left foot inside the loop catching the loop between the ball of the left foot against the wall. Bring the other end of the loop across to the right hip and bend the right knee into the center of the loop. Draw the right knee into the chest and place the second strap across the ball of the right foot. Extend the right leg and reach the arms up the strap so that the shoulders are still on the floor and the right leg is completely extended. Feel how the looped strap helps to ground the right thigh towards the wall Hold for 10 breaths then change the straps to the opposite side.

Picture
Sunbird
Begin on all fours.
Variation I:  Take right leg back with toes turned under. Reach left arm forward with fingertips on floor. Hold for 5 breaths, then release and change sides. 
Variation II:  Inhale and extend right leg back and raise left arm forward keeping limbs parallel to floor. Engage belly and look at the floor. Exhale and release to all fours. 
Variation III: You may also hold the extended posture while engaging the belly for several rounds of breath.
Benefits: Builds postural strength diagonally across the back body.


Picture
Block Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
Stand with feet hips-width apart, block between feet. Engage legs and bear weight on left leg only. Place right ball of foot onto block with knee turned slighty out, rest heel on inside of left calf. 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
Utthita Padangusthasana (Extended Big Toe Pose)
Variation I: Begin in Tadasana. Lift right foot and either hold foot with right hand or use strap. Keep right hip level with left hip and ground left standing leg as you extend the right leg forward. Extend left arm over head. Engage belly and lengthen tail. For a fully supported version, prop foot on a chair.
Therapeutics: Strengthens and stretches hamstrings and core, opens hips


Picture
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
Begin on all fours with hands slightly forward of shoulders. Turn toes under and lift knees off floor. Keep shoulders wide and palms flat, press thighs and sit bones back, scooping belly in. 
Hold 1-3 minutes, release into Child's Pose.
Therapeutics: Strengthens arms and shoulders, stretches back of torso and legs


Picture
Plank
From Downward Facing Dog swing the shoulders over the wrists and lower the hips in between the head and heels. Engage the belly and press back through the legs.


Picture
Balasana (Childs Pose)
From Plank pose, bend the knees onto the floor and press the hips back into childs pose. Stack the fists under the forehead and rest for 5-10 breaths.


Picture
Viparita Karani (Inverse Seal Pose)
Sit beside wall. Swing legs up wall as you lay back on mat. Place either a bolster or long-folded blanket under the lumbar curve, the buttocks should not be on floor. Lay arms out to sides with palms facing up. Rest at least 10-15 minutes, then roll over to release. 
Therapeutics: Activates the Relaxation Response, reduces swelling in the legs and feet, balances the nervous system, good if you have been sitting or on your feet all day 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Index:

    • Anatomic Focus
    • Chair Yoga
    • Chakras
    • Eight Limbs
    • Koshas
    • Posture Specific
    • Prana Vayus
    • Pranayama
    • Sun & Moon Salutations
    • Therapeutic
    • Vowel Spiral
    • Yoga for Cancer 
    • Yoga Nidra
    • 2015 India Trip

    Archives:

    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

(c) 2005-2022 Cheryl Fenner Brown, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP