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      in health and weelbeing

      Banesa Tseki On How Yoga Gave Her A New Lease On Life

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      Banesa Tseki, a yoga teacher and co-owner of a Johannesburg-based inclusive wellness centre known as The Nest Space, owes much of her mental wellness to yoga. Diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder at 15, Banesa was placed on anti-depressants and anxiety meds that made her completely numb.

      READ MORE: 7 Ways To Meditate For Anxiety Relief That Are *Actually* Easy To Do

      “In an attempt to ease my pain, the meds made me completely numb. Granted I could no longer feel the pain, but I could also no longer feel joy nor happiness and that was too big a sacrifice for me. There had to be another way,” she shares.

      NEW BEGINNINGS

      Then things took an interesting turn when she moved to Cape Town for university in 2008…

      “In Cape Town I came across breathwork, meditation and yoga through a five-day course offered by a society called Art of Living at the University of Cape Town. I did the course and was hooked for good,” recalls Banesa.

      Plus, signing up for the course made sense since she’d just finished reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, but lacked practice in the book’s teachings. With regular practice, Banesa found yoga to be an incredible healing tool that later stood her in good stead when she went off the depression and anxiety meds.

      READ MORE: What Is Holotropic Breathwork—And What Can It Do For Your Mental Health?

      When she moved to Johannesburg in 2015, Banesa met Itta ‘Ravi’ Roussos, who became her kundalini yoga teacher.

      “I trained in community-based yoga at African Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training of Southern Africa (AKYTTSA), whose motto is ‘social justice is a spiritual practice’, and served on the founding board. Itta was big on teaching yoga to more people of colour so we could go back and spread the teachings in our communities,” shares Banesa, who’s since taught yoga to both adults and children in various community centres and townships.

      YOGA AND HEALING

      Banesa is also a full-time head yoga coach at Shapa Soweto powered by Nike, where she teaches roughly 10 sessions weekly. “I’m more suited for community-based, rather than studio, yoga,” she notes before continuing: “Our yoga is trauma-based. It’s for the disadvantaged, and people who’ve experienced trauma, to use this healing modality to connect to an inner power that will encourage them to take control of their lives.”

      READ MORE: Ease Tight Muscles And Lift Your Mood With This Quick First-Thing Yoga Flow

      On the relationship between yoga and healing, Banesa explains:

      “A lot of the time, emotions are experienced through our body or breath. When we’re sad or excited, the rhythm of our breath adjusts to the emotion we’re experiencing,” she says, warning that unprocessed emotions usually manifest as tension in our bodies.

      READ MORE: Here’s How To Actually Do A Digital Detox, According To Experts

      She explains that unless one works through these emotions, that feeling of discomfort just sits there. Her advice? Being aware of that tension and where it sits, then working through it to release the trapped emotion.  “As this tension is released, a lot of people in my classes start crying or going through something. That’s because there’s therapy through the body, and talking is just another form,” she says. Through the body, she adds, we release emotions without necessarily naming them. 

      THE BUSINESS OF YOGA

      Banesa and her business partner Dr Anesu Mbizvo opened The Nest Space in 2018, and pivoted online during lockdown. In November last year, they reopened their boutique wellness centre in Parktown North, Johannesburg, which now features a yoga studio, a vegan café and a zero-waste grocer in. With that said, cheers to healing – may we embrace it wholeheartedly! More

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      in fitness and body

      10 Insanely Challenging Yoga Poses That Will Build Serious Strength

      by

      There’s no shortage of hard yoga pose #inspo on the net these days. But what if you’re actually inspired to try one yourself? Where would you even start? Megan Hochheimer, founder of US-based Karma Yoga Fitness, who frequently posts her own impressive “physics experiments” (her words), shares the benefits of pushing the boundaries of your practice, the requirements for nailing next-level poses, and of course, 10 hard yoga poses to set your sights on along with some pro tips. (Note that many of these tricky poses have a variety of names; the ones included here are what Hochheimer calls them.)

      First and foremost, have fun with it: “Where else can you be a grown-up and get to be barefoot and roll around on the floor and breathe as loud as you want? In your yoga practice, all those things are welcomed, so there’s no reason why some of these tricky poses can’t be a fun adventure.”

      The Benefits of Hard Yoga Poses

      You’ll learn more about your practice.

      “Sometimes I’ll see something in a picture and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, definitely I could do that.’ But then I end up laughing at myself because there’s no way,” says Hochheimer. On the flip side, with good prep work and practice, she’s nailed poses she never thought she’d be capable of. “It’s cool to find where those nuances are in your own body. That self-study is something that is so encouraged in yoga.”

      You’ll hone functional strength.

      “When you build that strength to get up and down off the ground, balance on one foot or balance on your hands, you’re honing those parts of your physicality that are going to help make all the rest of your activities of daily living so much more enjoyable,” says Hochheimer.

      You’ll finesse your proprioception.

      Other perks include working on your proprioception which, when dull, can lead to balance issues. “In most of these tricky poses there is this element of balance, whether one knee is on the ground, one foot is on the ground, you’re arm balancing, or you’re in an inversion,” explains Hochheimer. “When you start to build that, you’re building concentration and proprioception.”

      Asoka Eco Lux Dreams & Starlight Yoga Mat 

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      READ MORE: 8 Easy Core Yoga Poses That’ll Fire Up Your Abs

      The Hard Yoga Pose Prerequisites

      Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously.

      Some poses could take years to master while you may be able to do others right away. “What’s really important is that we don’t take ourselves too seriously about any of it,” says Hochheimer. “If you’re going to approach this in a really competitive way, sometimes that invites injury. Whereas if you approach it in a playful way, and just stay with yourself through the process, I think that it’s a very healthy exploration.”

      Bail Like A Kid.

      Know this: You’re going to fall out of arm balances and inversions. “All of us who have learned how to do them fall in one way or another, so the more you can understand your body mechanics and how you do that, the safer you can be when you do have to bail.” When you’re a little kid, you’re riding your bike, you fall off, you roll into the grass and you’re not hurt that badly. So, before attempting any of these poses, just do some cartwheels and rolls on the ground to get back in touch with that part of yourself and practice safely falling.

      Really, Really Warm Up.

      The better you warm up, the better you’ll be able to get into these poses. And not for nothing, Hochheimer notes that they’ll look more aesthetically pleasing to boot. A 10-minute vigorous flow should get your heart rate up and muscles warm, but be sure to specifically target the areas you’ll use in each pose as well.

      Take Videos or Photos.

      “Sometimes in my head, I thought things were going to look one way, but then they look a different way in a picture or video,” Hochheimer says. “Viewing them afterwards helps me to make tiny adjustments or understand that I need to do my homework and develop more triceps strength with decline push-ups, or foam roll, or whatever it is. That helps you learn because you’re not just then repetitively going back into these patterns of failure.”

      Practice—And Consider Pro Help.

      Remember: These are hard yoga poses! “With all yoga, a lot of it is practice so just keep coming back to it,” advises Hochheimer. Working with an experienced teacher can help you to more safely and quickly nail them.

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      Maxed Full-Length Leggings

      1. Camel Variation

      Expert Tip: Camel Pose is such a great opening of the front of our body that sometimes gets tight with a lot of our more strenuous Vinyasa. The arm variation here is a big shoulder stretch. Be sure to warm up your shoulders extra well before trying it.

      READ MORE: These Are The 4 Best Yoga Moves For A Toned Tummy 

      2. Peacock Pose

      Expert Tip: Remember that your legs are just as strong when you get upside down as they were when you were standing on them – keep them super active in this pose.

      3. Tripod Headstand Variation

      Expert Tip: Work on your scapular mobility before you try this one. To do so, hold a yoga block overhead between the hands at its widest angle. With straight arms, try to “push” the block towards the ceiling without shrugging your shoulders up around your ears. As you “pull” the block back down, don’t bend the elbows but do use the back muscles to create the sensation of the pull. Keeping squeezing the block between the hands through both phases of the movement. Repeat several times for scapular mobilisation.

      4. Baby Grasshopper

      Expert Tip: Sit on the floor with the right leg extending out in front. Step the left foot over the right leg and twist the torso to the right so that both hands come to the floor in line with the left foot. Press into the hands and bend elbows into chaturanga (upper arm parallel to the floor). Practise engaging the inner thigh to lift the right leg up (or use a block under the right hip to get lift-off). Lean towards the right inner arm and use core muscles to hold the body still as the left-hand grabs the right big toe.

      5. Eight-Angle Pose

      Expert Tip: This one grows out of that Baby Grasshopper. Work on your Chaturanga or tricep push-ups as prep work and focus on squeezing your inner thighs in the pose.

      6. Baby Crow Pose

      Expert Tip: If there’s a pose here to try first, it’s this one. It’s deceptively tricky-looking, but not as hard for most people to accomplish. It’s almost like a flying Child’s Pose. Start in a forearm plank, then walk your feet a little wider and start to tippy-toe in until you feel your knees touch the backs of your arms. Then, come into a Cat spine, look forward, and shift your weight forward.

      7. Split Pose Variation

      Expert Tip: Work on hamstring, quad, and hip flexor mobility before attempting this pose. You could try Pigeon Pose and half splits with blocks.

      8. Side Plank With Big Toe Grab

      Expert Tip: Here, you’re working internal rotation of one leg, external rotation of the other, core strength, and balance. The prep for balancing in this pose can be found in the Pose of Infinity: Lay on your right side with a yoga strap in your left hand. Rest your head on your right hand or arm. Extend both legs and try to keep the body in a straight line. Reach down and pull the left foot into the strap. Slowly extend the left leg up towards the ceiling. Use the strap in your left hand to control the stretch and hold the left foot up and focus on keeping the torso and right leg stable (try to limit the wobble forward and back). Repeat on the other side.

      READ MORE: Ease Tight Muscles And Lift Your Mood With This Quick First-Thing Yoga Flow 

      9. Bound Forward Fold

      Expert Tip: This one goes in the family of the Kneeling Compass (and it’s a prep for Bird of Paradise). The difference is that this one requires a bind, which means you’re taking double internal rotation of your shoulders. Use a strap in your hands as they come across your back to make it more accessible.

      10. Flying Split (Eka Pada Koundinyasana)

      Expert Tip: This balance-challenging pose is a partner to Kneeling Compass because it requires the same joint actions, hamstring flexibility, and external rotation of the top leg, internal rotation of the bottom leg. Work on your Chaturanga or tricep push-ups as prep work.

      *Words: Caitlin Carlson

      *This article was first published on Women’s Health US.

      Women’s Health participates in various affiliate marketing programmes, which means we may get commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.  More

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      These Are The Stretches You Should Be Doing Before Race Day 

      by

      For those with a race coming up, here is a quick routine of running stretches that you should do the day before to get your body prepped for the race!

      This is especially important if:

      You’ve flown to the event and have been sitting in a cramped aeroplane seat.

      You’ve been tapering and your body is feeling cranky.

      You’ve been sitting behind a computer a lot the week before the race.

      Your muscles are tight from all the training you’ve been doing in the build-up.

      Runners typically develop tight hamstrings, shorter muscles and tightness in the hips and groin area. This tightness could lead to injury and less than ideal performance on race day.

      Follow this routine for a good pre-race stretch (you can do it the day after race day too, to help with recovery).

      Remember, your body might be cold when you start moving, so make sure you move carefully and with intention, holding poses longer than you would initially (or in a vinyasa flow class).

      READ MORE: These Pilates-Fusion Moves Strengthen, Lengthen And Tone

      1/ Downward Dog

      Good for: Tight hamstrings and calves.

      Start with: Get into downward dog position with your body forming a triangle. Many runners won’t be able to get their feet flat on the ground – and this is fine. Spend about 2 minutes in this pose pedalling out your legs by lifting one heel and then the other and then teasing your heels closer towards the mat. It’s also good for your shoulders.

      2/ Low Lunge

      Good for: Hip flexors, hamstrings and quads

      Start with: From Downward Dog, raise your right leg into the sky behind you and then bring it forward beneath you, placing your foot between your hands. Drop your back knee onto the mat and raise your hands towards the sky. You should feel a nice, deep stretch in the groin area. Hold for 10 breaths and then repeat on the other side.

      3/ Runner’s Lunge

      Good for: Hip flexors, hamstrings and quads

      Start with: From Downward Dog, raise your right leg into the sky behind you and then bring it forward beneath you, placing your foot on the outside and in line with your right hand. This is an even deeper stretch, especially if you keep your back leg lifted. Hold this for 5 breaths and then drop your back knee. Place your right hand on the inside of your right leg and gently guide it, so that it opens up more to the side, opening your groin up more. Hold for 5 breaths. Let go of your knee and see if you can plant both forearms beneath your shoulders, down on the mat, on the inside of your right foot. Try and keep both elbows on the mat. Hold for 10 breaths This will deepen the stretch even more. repeat on the other side.

      READ MORE: Have You Tried The Explosive Cardio Hopscotch Workout?

      4/ Toes Pose

      Good for: Preventing plantar fasciitis

      Start with: Kneel on the mat and curl your toes under then sit your back on your heels. Hold for 10 breaths. You should feel a great stretch on the underneath side of your feet. Then flatten your feet while pointing your toes behind you. Actively lift your knees into the air to feel a great stretch on the top of your feet. This is great for your shins and arches.

      5/ Butterfly Pose

      Good for: Strengthens and opens hips and groin

      Start with: In a seated position, back straight, legs out in front of you, bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together. Bring your heels as close to your pelvis as they can go, without pain. Wrap your hands around your toes and consciously work your knees towards the floor for 10 breaths. You can also use your hands to peel the top part of your feet open, elbows pressed into your knees so that the soles are facing towards the sky. Hold for another 10 breaths. For an additional variation, lie down on your back and keep your legs in the soles-touching-knees-out position. Stretch out your arms reaching for the wall behind you. Hold for 10 breaths.

      READ MORE: The 6 Greatest Recovery Tools That Ease Tight Muscles

      6/ Seated spinal twist

      Good for: Loosening stiff spine, neck and shoulders

      Start with: Sit with your legs out in front of you. Cross your right leg over the left, knee pointed towards the sky and the sole of your foot on the ground. Place your left palm on the floor at the base of your spine. Reach your right arm across your body and push it against the outside of your right thigh, near your knee, to deepen the twist. Hold for 10 breaths. Repeat on the other side.

      7/ Cow Face Pose

      Good for: hips

      Start with: From all fours, cross your right knee over the left, stacking one on top of the other. Sit down between your legs rooting both sit bones on the mat. If one sit bone is higher than the other, rest on a block or blanket. This is a very tricky position for runners as hips are usually so tight. If you experience any pain or feel that this position is too hard on your body, try the reclined version, by starting with lying down on your back. Cross your knees and send your feet out to the sides. Hold on to your right foot with your left hand and your left foot with your right hand. Or if it’s more comfortable, hold your shins. Pull your heels in towards your body, then out to the sides and slightly up. Hold for 10 breaths, then reverse leg position and repeat.

      8/ Reclining Pigeon

      Good for: Releases tension and tightness in the hips

      Start with: Lie on your back with your knees bent, and your thighs parallel and hip-distance apart. Cross your left ankle over your right thigh. Reach your left arm through the space between your thighs and reach your right arm around the outside of your right thigh. Clasp your hands below your right knee and flex your left foot. If your head comes off your mat, place a pillow or block behind your head. Hold for 10 breaths and repeat on the other side.

      9/ Bridge

      Good for: shoulders, core

      Start with: Lie down on your back. Bend your knees and place the soles of your flat on the ground in front of your bum, toes facing forwards. With your arms placed alongside your torso, you should be able to touch your ankles with your fingertips. Now slowly, hold your core strong and lift first your lower back, then middle back, then upper back off the ground. Hold your hips up as high as you can for 10 breaths. Then release slowly back down. Do this a second time except with the second bridge, clasp your hands underneath you, opening up your shoulders more by rolling your shoulder blades towards each other and creating more lift. This is a great counterpose to running because we’re often hunched forwards.

      10/ Legs up against the wall

      Good for: Relieves tension in legs and feet and stretches hamstring and glutes.

      Start with: Sidle up beside an open wall space, with your hips as close to the base of the wall as is comfortable. Swing your legs up the wall and lie back. Rest here anywhere from 10 breaths to 10 minutes. This can replace a standard savasana. More

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      8 Easy Core Yoga Poses That’ll Fire Up Your Abs

      by

      Amy Dixon, an exercise physiologist and group fitness manager, has created this workout that builds muscle, improves flexibility, and melts away stress. Big bonus: these core yoga poses will fire up your abs.

      These moves roll yoga and strength into one neat package. They’re so effective because each exercise calls on your entire core and requires balance (thanks to the yoga moves), so your whole body, not just the targeted muscle, works through its full range of motion. Tackle the moves two non-consecutive days a week and you’ll notice sleeker definition – and a calmer mindset – within four weeks.

      Lateral Bend And Reach

      This core yoga pose works the core, shoulders, hamstrings and inner thighs.

      Grab a pair of dumbbells and stand with your feet about 1.2 metres apart. Turn your left foot out 90 degrees. Raise your right arm straight up above your shoulder, palm facing in (A). Brace your abs and bend to the left, lowering the left dumbbell to your left ankle (B). Rise back up, keeping your right arm overhead. Do 12 to 15 reps, then repeat on the other side. Do three sets, resting for up to 30 seconds between sets.

      READ MORE: These Pilates-Fusion Moves Strengthen, Lengthen And Tone

      Dog Press

      This core yoga pose works the core, shoulders, pecs, lats, back and hamstrings.

      Stand a bit behind a Bosu. Bend into down­ward dog, placing your palms about 12 centimetres apart on the dome and lifting your hips towards the ceiling (A). Place your right hand a metre in front of the Bosu and place your right knee on it. Follow with your left hand and left knee (B). Do a push-up (C). Step back into downward dog. That’s one rep. Do two sets of 8 to 10, resting for 30 seconds between sets.

      Rock The Boat

      Works entire core.

      Draw your knees towards your chest, lift your head and grab your legs below the knees (A). Rock up and balance on your glutes (B). Keeping your back long and chest lifted, straighten your legs and extend your arms (C). Hold for three seconds, then tuck in and roll back to start. That’s one rep. Do three sets of 12 to 15 reps, resting for up to 30 seconds between sets.

      READ MORE: Feel Strong And Powerful With This Explosive 15-Minute Workout

      Dive & Roll

      Works back and glutes.

      Place a weighted bar half a metre in front of a Bosu. Lie face down with your hips and belly on the Bosu, feet hip-width apart on the floor. Place your palms on the bar and lift your legs as high as possible (A). Slowly roll the bar towards the Bosu as you lower your legs towards the floor (B). Roll back to start. That’s one rep. Do three sets of 12 to 15 reps, resting for up to 30 seconds between sets.

      Trainer TipKeep your neck in line with your spine throughout the move.

      Crescent Lunge and Row

      Works back, glutes, hamstrings and quads.

      Grab a three-to-five kilogram dumbbell in your right hand and stand with your feet together, arms at your sides. Lunge forwards with your left leg until your left knee is bent at 90 degrees. Lower your torso as close as possible to your left knee, as you raise your left arm out to the side to shoulder height, palm down. Allow the dumbbell to hang naturally (A). Row the dumbbell straight up until your right elbow passes your torso (B). That’s one rep. Continue rowing, without standing up, for 12 to 15 reps. Return to start and repeat on the other side. That’s one set. Do three sets, resting for up to 30 seconds between sets.

      Trainer TipKeep your rowing arm close to your side.

      READ MORE: This 4-Week Bodyweight Challenge Is The Ultimate New Year Workout Plan

      Tricep Warrior

      Works core, triceps, glutes, hamstrings and quads.

      Grab a pair of two-to-four kilogram dumbbells and stand with your feet together, arms at your sides. Rest your right toe on the floor about half a metre behind you (A). Bend forwards from the hips and raise your right leg until your body forms a T. Bend your elbows to bring the dumbbells directly under your shoulders, palms facing in (B). Keeping your upper arms still, extend the dumbbells straight back (C). Curl them back to your shoulders. That’s one rep. Do 15 to 20 without lowering your leg. Rest for 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side.

      Bicep Warrior

      Works shoulders, biceps, glutes, hamstrings, and inner and outer thighs.

      Grab a pair of two-to-four kilogram dumbbells and stand with your feet about a metre apart. Turn your left foot out 90 degrees and, hips and shoulders facing forward, bend your left knee at 90 degrees. Extend your arms to shoulder height (A). With your upper arms parallel to the floor, do a bicep curl, bringing the dumbbells to your shoulders (B). Slowly re-extend your arms. Do 15 to 20 reps; rest for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side. More

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      10 Insanely Challenging Yoga Poses That Build Serious Strength

      by

      There’s no shortage of hard yoga pose #inspo on the net these days. But what if you’re actually inspired to try one yourself? Where would you even start? Megan Hochheimer, founder of US-based Karma Yoga Fitness , USA who frequently posts her own impressive “physics experiments” (her words), shares the benefits of pushing the boundaries of your practice, the requirements for nailing next-level poses, and of course, 10 hard yoga poses to set your sights on along with some pro tips. (Note that many of these tricky poses have a variety of names; the ones included here are what Hochheimer calls them.)
      First and foremost, have fun with it: “Where else can you be a grown-up and get to be barefoot and roll around on the floor and breathe as loud as you want? In your yoga practice, all those things are welcomed, so there’s no reason why some of these tricky poses can’t be a fun adventure.”

      The Benefits of Hard Yoga Poses
      You’ll learn more about your practice.
      “Sometimes I’ll see something in a picture and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, definitely I could do that.’ But then I end up laughing at myself because there’s no way,” says Hochheimer. On the flip side, with good prep work and practice, she’s nailed poses she never thought she’d be capable of. “It’s cool to find where those nuances are in your own body. That self-study is something that is so encouraged in yoga.”
      You’ll hone functional strength.
      “When you build that strength to get up and down off the ground, balance on one foot or balance on your hands, you’re honing those parts of your physicality that are going to help make all the rest of your activities of daily living so much more enjoyable,” says Hochheimer.
      You’ll finesse your proprioception.
      Other perks include working on your proprioception which, when dull, can lead to balance issues. “In most of these tricky poses there is this element of balance, whether one knee is on the ground, one foot is on the ground, you’re arm balancing, or you’re in an inversion,” explains Hochheimer. “When you start to build that, you’re building concentration and proprioception.”

      The Hard Yoga Pose Prerequisites
      Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously.
      Some poses could take years to master while you may be able to do others right away. “What’s really important is that we don’t take ourselves too seriously about any of it,” says Hochheimer. “If you’re going to approach this in a really competitive way, sometimes that invites injury. Whereas if you approach it in a playful way, and just stay with yourself through the process, I think that it’s a very healthy exploration.”
      Bail Like A Kid.
      Know this: You’re going to fall out of arm balances and inversions. “All of us who have learned how to do them fall in one way or another, so the more you can understand your body mechanics and how you do that, the safer you can be when you do have to bail.” When you’re a little kid, you’re riding your bike, you fall off, you roll into the grass and you’re not hurt that badly. So, before attempting any of these poses, just do some cartwheels and rolls on the ground to get back in touch with that part of yourself and practice safely falling.
      Really, Really Warm Up.
      The better you warm up, the better you’ll be able to get into these poses. And not for nothing, Hochheimer notes that they’ll look more aesthetically pleasing to boot. A 10-minute vigorous flow should get your heart rate up and muscles warm, but be sure to specifically target the areas you’ll use in each pose as well.
      Take Videos or Photos.
      “Sometimes in my head I thought things were going to look one way, but then they look a different way in a picture or video,” Hochheimer says. “Viewing them afterwards helps me to make tiny adjustments or understand that I need to do my homework and develop more triceps strength with decline push-ups, or foam roll, or whatever it is. That helps you learn because you’re not just then repetitively going back into these patterns of failure.”
      Practice—And Consider Pro Help.
      Remember: These are hard yoga poses! “With all yoga, a lot of it is practice so just keep coming back to it,” advises Hochheimer. Working with an experienced teacher can help you to more safely and quickly nail them.

      1. Camel Variation

      Expert Tip: Camel Pose is such a great opening of the front of our body that sometimes gets tight with a lot of our more strenuous Vinyasa. The arm variation here is a big shoulder stretch. Be sure to warm up your shoulders extra well before trying it.

      2. Peacock Pose

      Expert Tip: Remember that your legs are just as strong when you get upside down as they were when you were standing on them—keep them super active in this pose.

      3. Tripod Headstand Variation

      Expert Tip: Work on you scapular mobility before you try this one. To do so, hold a yoga block overhead between the hands on its widest angle. With straight arms, try to “push” the block towards the ceiling without shrugging your shoulders up around your ears. As you “pull” the block back down, don’t bend the elbows but do use the back muscles to create the sensation of the pull. Keeping squeezing the block between the hands through both phases of the movement. Repeat several times for scapular mobilisation.

      4. Eight Angle Pose

      Expert Tip: This one grows out of that Baby Grasshopper. Work on your Chaturanga or tricep push-ups as prep work and focus on squeezing your inner thighs in the pose.

      5. Baby Grasshopper

      Expert Tip: Sit on the floor with the right leg extending out in front. Step the left foot over the right leg and twist the torso to the right so that both hands come to the floor in line with the left foot. Press into the hands and bend elbows into chaturanga (upper arm parallel to the floor). Practise engaging the inner thigh to lift the right leg up (or use a block under the right hip to get lift off). Lean towards the right inner arm and use core muscles to hold the body still as the left hand grabs right big toe.

      6. Baby Crow Pose

      Expert Tip: If there’s a pose here to try first, it’s this one. It’s deceptively tricky-looking, but not as hard for most people to accomplish. It’s almost like a flying Child’s Pose. Start in a forearm plank, then walk your feet a little wider and start to tippy toe in until you feel your knees touch the backs of your arms. Then, come into a Cat spine, look forward, and shift your weight forward.

      7. Split Pose Variation

      Expert Tip: Work on hamstring, quad, and hip flexor mobility before attempting this pose. You could try Pigeon Pose and half splits with blocks.

      8. Side Plank With Big Toe Grab

      Expert Tip: Here, you’re working internal rotation of one leg, external rotation of the other, core strength, and balance. The prep for balancing in this pose can be found in the Pose of Infinity: Lay on your right side with a yoga strap in your left hand. Rest your head on your right hand or arm. Extend both legs and try to keep the body in a straight line. Reach down and pull the left foot into the strap. Slowly extend the left leg up towards the ceiling. Use the strap in your left hand to control the stretch and hold the left foot up and focus on keeping the torso and right leg stable (try to limit the wobble forward and back). Repeat on the other side.

      9. Bound Forward Fold

      Expert Tip: This one goes in the family of the Kneeling Compass (and it’s a prep for Bird of Paradise). The difference is that this one requires a bind, which means you’re taking double internal rotation of your shoulders. Use a strap in your hands as they come across your back to make it more accessible.

      10. Fallen Compass

      Expert Tip: This tricky “fallen” variation marries Compass and Bridge poses. Warm up the hamstrings and lateral bending as much as possible before attempting.

      The article 20 Hard Yoga Poses That Build Serious Strength And Confidence was first published on Women’s Health.

      READ MORE ON: Difficult Yoga Poses Fitness Tips Yoga More

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      Yoga Moves That Bonnie Mbuli Swears By

      by

      “The quickest way to bring my mind and my soul into alignment is to discipline my body. If I discipline my body, I’m more likely to choose the right meal after I’ve worked out. I’m more likely to go and pray because I feel good. I’m more likely to make a better decision about something I need to do concerning work. I’m highly likely to have more energy to do the things I’m supposed to do. I’m more likely to look at the world in a positive way. So I use exercise as a tool for mastering myself,” enthuses the 42-year-old actress and author. The mom of two boys, who covers our Jan/Feb 2022 issue shares that she’s learnt that mind, body, soul and spirit are all aligned. She adds, “When one is out of whack, all of them get scattered!”
      Here are Bonnie’s go-to yoga moves. Get ready to feel calm, strong, and bendy.
      Downward Dog

      Bonnie’s Take: “It’s a superb hamstring stretcher – and mine are always tight! There’s also something about this position that forces me to fully face myself.” 
      Master It: Start in a high plank. Lift hips up and back, sinking heels toward floor, until body forms an upside down “V” shape. Press shoulders away from ears and relax neck. Spread fingers wide on mat, with palms pressed against the floor. Hold for five slow breaths.

      Headstand

      Bonnie: “It improves circulation and challenges my fears. I used to pull off headstands effortlessly as a child. Now, I can only master them against a wall! I think it’s fear though.”
      Master It: Begin by interlacing your fingers and placing your forearms on the mat, parallel, palms facing each other. Cup the back of your head in your hands, the top of your head on the floor. Take five breaths here. Then, pushing down through shoulders and forearms, lift one foot up into the air, knee bent. Using your core, lift the other to meet it. Brace abs and squeeze glutes and leg muscles, as you slowly straighten legs upwards, pointing toes. Your body should feel like a solid, secure cylinder, with minimal weight on head and neck. Hold for three breaths, then slowly lower legs back down.

      Humble Warrior 

      Bonnie’s Take: “It reminds me to strike a balance between being strong and vulnerable.”
      Master It: Start with legs almost as wide as mat, right foot forward, toes facing straight ahead, left foot back, outside of foot parallel to back of mat (right heel lined up with middle of left inner arch), torse facing left side, and arms at sides. Keep left leg straight while deeply bending right knee until thigh is parallel to mat, then extend arms out to the sides at shoulder height. Gaze should be over front fingers. Hold for three to five breaths.

      Any Hip Openers 
      Bonnie’s Take: “Hips are where we house our trapped emotions and trauma. Hip stretchers remind me to keep my heart open.”
      Master It: Happy baby is a beginner-friendly pose. Start lying on back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor and arms at sides. Draw knees toward chest outside of ribs with legs bent and soles facing ceiling. Bring arms inside of legs and grab big toes with first two fingers and thumb of same hand. Gently pull knees toward floor. Hold for five to eight breaths.

      READ MORE ON: Bonnie Mbuli Downward Dog Headstand Humble Warrior Yoga Yoga Workouts More