As a runner, I know what having tight calf muscles is like. Calf muscles are used a lot during running so without proper stretching they tend to get very tight. Running isn't the only thing that can make your calves tight—other exercises or even wearing high heels can cause tightness. When I started … [Read more...]
Quick Seated Hip-Opening Yoga Sequence for Runners
If you're busy like I am, you don't always have time to make it to a yoga studio or gym for an hour-long class, especially if you're running consistently. And, let's face it: if your legs are already torched from running or other workouts, the last thing you want to do is do a bunch of standing … [Read more...]
Sun Salutations for Beginners
One of the core sequences in yoga is the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar). It's wonderful for warming up the body, helping to create and foster the mind-body connection, and helping you control your breath as you flow between the different asanas, or yoga poses. But, full Sun Salutations can be tough … [Read more...]
Quick Yoga Sequence for Runners
In my opinion, there is nothing like a little yoga after a run. (As a yoga teacher and a running coach, I'm a little biased, of course.) There's something so satisfying about releasing tight muscles after a hard workout. Through trial and error, I found a quick little sequence that I'll follow after … [Read more...]
Building Strength for Arm Balances
Many new yogis are in awe of the beautiful arm balances they see more advanced students practicing in their classes or on social media. But, building strength for arm balances can take some time. I know I practiced for at least a year before I had the strength to hold basic arm balances for a few … [Read more...]
Gentle Morning Yoga
I don't know about you, but I must sleep in some crazy positions because my muscles always feel really tight when I first wake up. To loosen up before I start my day, I like to do a few gentle yoga poses to limber up a bit. Here are some of my favorite poses that I use in my gentle morning yoga … [Read more...]
Gentle Inversions
Yoga inversions are wonderful poses to practice. They improve circulation and help bring more blood to the brain, which helps bring mental clarity, focus, and a sense of peace. Inversions can even help you get to sleep more quickly and help you sleep more soundly. But, some more advanced … [Read more...]
Best Yoga Poses for Renewal
Spring is almost here! It's really starting to warm up in Chicagoland and I think everyone I talk to is itching for spring. The snow is melting and soon we'll have spring flowers peeping up. The lawns will get greener, trees will start to leaf out, and we'll begin to see little baby birdies and … [Read more...]
Sick Day Yoga
It's winter, which means it's cold and flu season. I came down with a cold not too long ago, bad enough that I had to take time off of work to rest and regenerate and spent the majority of my time in bed. Somewhere between being sick and spending a lot of time lying down, my body felt sore and … [Read more...]
Bedtime Yoga Poses
If you're anything like me, the minute you lay down in bed your head starts to race through everything that happened to you that day and everything you have to do the next day. Adding in a little bit of gentle, relaxing yoga before bedtime will help calm your mind and prepare you for sleep. In this … [Read more...]