Author: Andrea Stern

In this last class of Yoga Basics, we reflect on what we’ve learned.  By understanding the alignment of asana gives you the power of selfceare during your practice. Within this essence you can tap into its transformative power to cultivate balance, peace, and well-being in your live. Even yoga teachers like me are still students…

After exploring the basic principles of alignment in various asanas and breath work, today, in this 10th lesson, we focus on the Yoga Philosophy, specifically the eight limbs the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali, often regarded as the father of yoga, documented this ancient wisdom in 195 aphorisms. These profound principles are just the tip of the…

In yoga, an inversion is any pose where your heart is higher than your head. This includes challenging poses like Handstand and Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana), as well as relaxing poses like Child’s Pose (Balasana) and Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani). Turning the world upside down, children love to do it in…

One of the primary benefits of backbends is their ability to strengthen the muscles of the back and help you become more flexible at the same time. In backbend postures such as cobra or locust, you train the muscles along your spine, enhancing their endurance and resilience. Backbends have a remarkable energizing effect on your…

These gentle movements carry a profound calming effect on the nervous system, inviting you to surrender and cultivate humility with each breath. The essence of forward bends lies in their ability to gently stretch the entire back of the body, while also providing a subtle massage to your internal organs. As you fold forward gracefully,…

Twists offer you a rejuvenating effects and a range of physical and mental benefits. Particularly effective after sequences involving forward or backward bends, twists serve as balancing asanas. During your practice, it is necessary to maintain spine length, and initiating rotation from the core is the key to their effectiveness. Incorporating twists into your practice…

The center is the abdominal muscles, which promote connection to your core. This isn’t about getting a six-pack like in fitness training, but rather about deep anchoring within yourself. Networking this profound musculature is essential on a physical level for stabilizing the lumbar spine. Building these deep abdominal muscles prevents lower back pain. Additionally, here…

The Sun Salutation is one of the most well-known and beloved sequences of asanas. It combines dynamism, strength, flexibility, endurance, and concentration. It is ideally suited for one’s regular practice at home, as the sequence is clear and its structure easy to follow. Especially in the morning, it is an ideal springboard into the day,…

Did you know that an adult at rest typically breathes around 12 to 20 times per minute? That’s approximately 22,000 breaths a day!  Breathing isn’t just a simple bodily function—it’s what keeps you- us alive. Your lungs play an important role in this process, providing your body with the oxygen it needs to function. With…

Download Handout Yoga Basic 1. Did you know that before the written word, knowledge was passed down orally? Yoga, has been transmitted from Master to student for over 5,000 years. The word “yoga” finds its roots in the sacred Sanskrit texts known as the Rig Veda, revered for their spiritual wisdom. The first practitioners of…