Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 20

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 20. We're starting to practice a little longer and you may find the poses a bit more challenging. Today's focus is on twists and we'll work up to parivritta trikonasana or twisted triangle. We're also continuing the vinyasa style of hatha yoga. Please modify as you practice, and rest whenever you feel that you could use it. Remember, the pause button is always available for you! 

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 21

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 21 I know you've been working very hard these last 3 weeks, and today's practice will give you a little rest. We're going to take a little bit of asana to warm up the body and then we'll move into a mindfulness practice (also known as meditation). If you're comfortable enough to sit during this practice, please do, but if laying down is a better option for you, then please be comfortable. Enjoy some rest today! 

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 22

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 22 Today we'll work up to twisted half moon pose or pavritta ardha chandrasana. This is a challenging balance pose with a twist. You may remember practicing twisted triangle (pavritta trikonasana) a couple of days ago and this pose adds on to what we learned about twists. Twists are great to promote proper digestion and a healthy spine. We'll continue to practice sun salutations in our vinyasa flow style. As always, please rest and take breaks whenever they're needed...child's pose is always an option.  Our classes are getting a bit longer to get you ready for our yoga fix 90 program if you're interested in continuing your challenge longer. 

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 23 with Lesley Fightmaster

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 23 Today is all about the heart! We're focusing on practicing backbends and we'll work up to Ustrasana or Camel pose. This is a wonderful heart opening posture. Some people experience an emotional response (happiness, fear, sadness) while practicing this pose or other backbends. Keep in mind that if you have some kind of emotional response to the poses, it's perfectly normal. There are many things in our lives (feelings, experiences) that get stored in our bodies and although we may not be aware of them on an intellectual level, we can still release things that can get "stuck" through our yoga practice. I hope that you enjoy our practice today!! Lots of love to you!

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 24 with Lesley Fightmaster

Yoga for Beginners 30 day challenge Day 24! Today we'll include more Surya Namaskar B sun salutations during our vinyasa flow. As always, while practicing this type of hatha yoga, please modify and rest as needed. Surya B can be challenging as we synch breath with movement. Try not to get discouraged if it's not easy...it will become easier as you continue. You're getting so strong and your stamina is increasing from this challenge. Keep up the good work!!

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 25 with Lesley Fightmaster

Yoga for Beginners 30 day challenge day 25. Today we'll practice hip openers. We'll stretch the hips with warrior 2, side angle pose and lizard pose. When we're nice and warm from our vinyasa flow, we'll make our way into pigeon pose. Remember, we do not stretch the knee in yoga. If you have knee pain, stop immediately and take thread the needle (the alternate pose shown) instead. 

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 26

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 26 is a class that prepares us for headstand. We won't go up into headstand today, but we will have that option on day 30! Inversions are fun and they help us to look at the world from a new perspective. However, if they are brand new to you, they can also be scary, so today we'll work on some of the actions and if you're ready to go up on the last day, you can choose to...no pressure though. Be sure to practice child's pose when our vinyasa flow gets a bit too vigorous. We'll enjoy plenty of standing poses today included ardha chandrasana or half moon pose. We'll also practice sun salutations or surya namaskar and we'll stretch our shoulders. Enjoy your practice and most importantly, breathe! xoxo

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 27

Yoga for beginners 30 day challenge day 27. I know that you've been working hard the past several days, so today we'll slow down a little and stretch! I hope you enjoy our slower place and that you get a good S-T-R-E-T-C-H. We'll practice low lunges, childs pose, half-splits to stretch the hamstrings, and some hip openers and gentle backbends.

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 28 with Lesley Fightmaster

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 28 Today we'll practice lots of core strengthening and we'll work up to an arm balance called bakasana. Bakasana is called crow or crane pose. It's challenging and we'll go through the actions for the pose before we attempt it. I'd recommend a pillow or blanket to put under your face, just in case you lose your balance and fall forward. This class is great to hip and shoulder stretching as well as strengthening your belly muscles. Enjoy and rememeber...it's not about if you get into the pose or not...just do your best and while you're practicing your mind will quiet down and be present. Giving ourselves a break from the chatter of the mind is the gift of yoga...the pose is just for fun!

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 29 with Lesley Fightmaster

Yoga For Beginners 30 Day Challenge Day 29 Today we learn how to come up in a handstand prep. You'll need a wall to take this pose. It's really fun and actually looks more difficult than it is. We'll do a lot of core strengthening today and tomorrow to get you super strong in case you want to continue with the 90-day yoga fix program. There will again be a lot of vinyasa flow in today's class so as always, rest and push the pause button whenever you need to!  You're doing an amazing job with this challenge...only one more day to go!!! Great work!