National Yoga Month: Let's Celebrate!
September is National Yoga Month! Time to unroll our mats, loosen up and chill out.
If you've never tried yoga, this is a great time to check out a class. Throughout the month, studios across the country are offering even more free classes than usual. (Many studios also offer at least one free or donation-based class a week on a regular basis.)
I've been practicing yoga regularly for four years, but I had been "stretching" for fitness and relaxation since high school. Some of my favorite poses back then were plow, shoulderstand, wide-legged seated forward fold, and seated forward fold. I had no idea what yoga was, but I knew that I was flexible and liked to stretch at night before I went to bed. In college, I took a hatha yoga class, and I loved it. However, the teacher focused on the more esoteric aspects of yoga: Sanskrit names, the ancient traditions, and other aspects that were lost on my flighty, 20-year-old self. Again, I liked the stretching and the relaxation. My mom gave me a video, but I can't remember the title. I also taped episodes of Yoga Zone each morning and did a bit before classes. (By the way, Yoga Zone DVDs are excellent for those who already exercise but want to learn the basics of yoga.)
Today I'm a certified yoga teacher, and I love sharing the practice with others. Today I'm sharing some of my favorite yoga resources with you!
Fun Yoga Month Resources:
My favorite yoga resources:
Beginners:
New to exercise:
Intermediate/Advanced :
Books:
Beginners:
Will you participate in National Yoga Month? Have you taken advantage of a free class in your area? Do you have a question about your that you'd like me to answer in an upcoming blog post?
If you've never tried yoga, this is a great time to check out a class. Throughout the month, studios across the country are offering even more free classes than usual. (Many studios also offer at least one free or donation-based class a week on a regular basis.)
I've been practicing yoga regularly for four years, but I had been "stretching" for fitness and relaxation since high school. Some of my favorite poses back then were plow, shoulderstand, wide-legged seated forward fold, and seated forward fold. I had no idea what yoga was, but I knew that I was flexible and liked to stretch at night before I went to bed. In college, I took a hatha yoga class, and I loved it. However, the teacher focused on the more esoteric aspects of yoga: Sanskrit names, the ancient traditions, and other aspects that were lost on my flighty, 20-year-old self. Again, I liked the stretching and the relaxation. My mom gave me a video, but I can't remember the title. I also taped episodes of Yoga Zone each morning and did a bit before classes. (By the way, Yoga Zone DVDs are excellent for those who already exercise but want to learn the basics of yoga.)
Today I'm a certified yoga teacher, and I love sharing the practice with others. Today I'm sharing some of my favorite yoga resources with you!
Fun Yoga Month Resources:
- Name That Yoga Pose
Join the Manduka Community, Win a Year of Free Yoga
Lululemon Offers Free Classes
How to Find a Yoga Teacher
A Lovely Site-in-Progress That's Taking Yoga Off the Mat
My favorite yoga resources:
- All things yoga:
Yoga Journal's website
- Entertaining yoga website:
Yoga Dork
- Mats with a lifetime guarantee (pricey but worth it for regular practitioners):
Manduka Black Pro
- Good mats for beginners:
SparkPeople fitness mat
- Never-again-worry-about-hair-in-your-face (or sweat-in-your-eyes) headbands (a must for me!)
- Bondi Bands
- Sweaty Bands (based in Cincinnati!)
- Bondi Bands
- Awesome yoga-friendly clothing
- Blocks, straps, and other accessories :Gaiam
- Non-skid, sweat-absorbing towels (a must for any sweaty yogi or those who like it hot!)
Beginners:
New to exercise:
- HeavyWeight Yoga with Abby Lentz (We love her!)
- HeavyWeight Yoga 2
- Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners
- Complete Yoga Fitness Beginners with Lilias Folan, the Cincinnati-based grande dame of yoga
Intermediate/Advanced :
Books:
Beginners:
- Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics: The Essential Beginner's Guide to Yoga For a Lifetime of Health and Fitness
- Yoga For Dummies
- The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga
- The Athlete's Guide to Yoga: An Integrated Approach to Strength, Flexibility, and Focus by Sage Rountree
- Yin Yoga by Paul Grilley
- Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice by David Swenson (I took a workshop with him this spring. He's amazing!)
Will you participate in National Yoga Month? Have you taken advantage of a free class in your area? Do you have a question about your that you'd like me to answer in an upcoming blog post?
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Comments
Paul
Owner, www.stbands.com / - 5/27/2011 2:32:22 PM
Wish me luck with yoga at home. I am not diligent when it comes to working out at home ! - 9/19/2010 6:51:13 AM
However, before I had my heart ablation for Atrial fibrillation, yoga was one of the best ways for me to slow down my racing heart beat while in AFIb. - 9/16/2010 2:25:21 PM
The best thing about this studio is even the master teacher in the studio does not push on my hips to open them further BEFORE their time (had been one of about three red flags to a bull(y) yoga master teacher I'd had) ...
According to this teacher, such things can't be pushed ...
I am fast approaching intermediate level after well over 3 years regular practice ...
Oh, another good thing ... he uses a much more lung-friendly kind of incense ... and that's only once in a while, too ... - 9/15/2010 11:16:04 AM
I've been wanting to try a Yoga class....where do you teach and do they offer a free class for beginners?? - 9/14/2010 4:38:24 PM
I enjoy it and the physical/mental benefits it provides. - 9/14/2010 11:31:03 AM
- 9/14/2010 8:44:51 AM
Yoga saved my life...and continues to! I speak of the yoga philosophy and practice...the postures (body), the breathing practices (pranayama) and meditation/lifestyle choices and changes (mind).
SparkFriend Genki_Warrior, a dedicated practitioner, and I are currently taking a vinyasa series from a student of Shiva Rea at the moment.
Jai Yoga!
Mahalakshmi - 9/14/2010 6:58:48 AM
I have Kripalu's Yoga Breaks on my nano. It is wonderful to practice breathing and mediation while waiting for an appointment.
www.kripalu.org/article/649
I haven't been to a class in a while and would like to do more on my own... thanks for the links. - 9/14/2010 6:58:33 AM
I'll have to check the schedule at the gym. - 9/13/2010 10:08:03 PM
- 9/13/2010 7:40:04 PM
- 9/13/2010 7:08:24 PM
I must admit I havent been practicing much but I will use this month to get back into the swing of things! - 9/13/2010 2:49:34 PM
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