Working Out in Intense Temperatures

Jennifer S. Altman for The New York Times A yoga class at Pure Yoga on the Upper East Side. More Photos » IT was 105 degrees — as hot as a typical steam room — at Pure Yoga on the Upper East Side on a recent Saturday, but for the 16 women already perspiring through […]

10 Things to Stop in Yoga Class

Some of yoga’s best lessons are not about how to get all pretzeled up, but more about how to establish beneficial behaviors that will carry over into your life off the mat. Take a look at this list of 10 things to stop doing to yourself in yoga class and see if any of them […]

Standing Split

Type of pose: Standing, balancing Benefits: Strengthens the legs, stretches the hamstrings, improves balance Instructions: 1. Begin in uttanasana. 2. Shift your weight into the right leg and kick the left leg up behind you. 3. Keep the hands on the floor and the hips squared towards the floor. 4. Walk the hands back toward […]

Anusara Yoga

Founded in 1997 by American yogi John Friend, Anusara (which means “flowing with grace”) is very popular in the United States and increasingly available in Europe and Asia. Anusara headquarters are in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston, however Friend travels extensively worldwide, giving workshops and training Anusara teachers. In the spring of 2011, […]

Even Smiles Count, However Exacting the Competition

CORRECTION APPENDED To warm up backstage before the ninth New York Regional and National Yoga Asana Championship, some competitors slid their legs behind their heads and others curled into back bends. Michael Colwill, 46, stood still in a purple Speedo and practiced bowing. Perfecting a gentle smile, he stood on a yoga mat, secured to […]

Three Minute Egg

Rectangular yoga blocks made of hard foam are standard issue at most contemporary yoga studios. These blocks have many uses, including raising your seat in sitting postures and offering you support in balancing poses. But if you have ever come to lie over the block in a heart opener, you have undoubtedly noticed that its […]

Yoga for Better Posture

Students often want to know if yoga can make them taller. While yoga is not going to make you grow, it can noticeably improve your posture, making you look taller, thinner, and more confident. Many postural problems are caused by the hours spent each day hunched over a computer terminal at work or driving a […]

National Yoga Competition Tests Even the Audience

Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times Jared McCann prepared Friday for the New York Regional and National Yoga Asana Championship in Manhattan. More Photos » To warm up backstage before the ninth New York Regional and National Yoga Asana Championship, some competitors slid their legs behind their heads and others curled into back bends. […]

Introduction to Prenatal Yoga

During pregnancy, you want to stay in shape and do what is best for your baby-to-be. Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to do both. Whether you are new to yoga or already an experienced practitioner, you can enjoy the benefits of yoga while pregnant. Yoga classes are a great way to prepare yourself for […]

New York Welcomes Yoga Asana Championships

Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times On Friday, yogis from the New York area will compete for spots in the national yoga finals. Kyoko Katsura adjusted a student’s pose while leading an advanced preparation class for the competition. For Kelsea Bangora, New York’s 2011 yoga asana champion, the conversation usually goes like this: “Yoga […]

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