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Yoga Alignment Blog Series: Chair Pose, Utkatasana

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Disclaimers: Consult a doctor before beginning an exercise regime. Never force a pose.  Stop if you feel pain or intense discomfort.  Yoga is meant to be yummy.

I love vinyasa yoga and I am obsessed with good alignment.  This obsession doesn’t stem from a need for perfection, which would be very “un-yoga-like” of me, but from a passion for protecting the body from injury.  Most bodies can safely practice yoga on a daily basis, but maintaining sound alignment is essential to your physical wellbeing.  In this series, I will break down some common poses—explaining how to stay safe and fully enjoy each posture.  Finally, remember to BREATHE consistently while practicing yoga to receive the full benefits of the practice … otherwise, you’re just stretching in Sanskrit.  Today’s pose is Chair Pose, or Utkatasana.

Chair Pose, or Utkatasana
Chair Pose, or Utkatasana
  • Bring the big toes to touch, toes are spread wide and gripping into the mat.
  • Sit back, as if you’re sitting into a chair. *Some teachers will tell you to “scoop the tailbone”—this cue is becoming less common. If you’d like to read more about the “scoop” debate—here is one article for your perusal.
  • Thighs engage, squeezing towards one another.
  • Engage uddiyanabandha, bringing the belly button in and up towards the spine. This is not an instruction to hold the breath. Continue to breathe fully.
  • Stretch the arms overhead, looking up between your palms.
  • Arms begin to externally rotate, meaning palms begin to face towards the back of the mat.
  • Release any unnecessary tension in your neck and face.

Practicing yoga on your own can be a ton of fun, but taking a class is a great way to explore new poses under the tutelage of a trained yoga instructor; check out MINT’s yoga offerings, here.

Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle. When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney. She is also a MINT Ambassador. Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle. When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney. She is also a MINT Ambassador.

Turkey Day Workout

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As the holiday season approaches, don’t let yourself lose sight of everything you’ve worked so hard for.

If you’re traveling home for the holidays, or trying to find time to fit in your own workout around all your Thanksgiving activities, use this creative, well rounded, total body workout, to get yourself feeling good before you indulge. Choose your weight and amount of repetitions based on your skill level, time allotted, and access to equipment.

turkey-day-20-minute-workout

Feel free to sub out/add in exercises based on personal preference and ability.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Melanie Rubin is a Physical Therapist in DC and a group fitness instructor at MINT.Melanie Rubin is a Physical Therapist in DC and a group fitness instructor at MINT.

Take PlyoFit Home With You

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One of the most commonly asked fitness questions around this time of the year is, ‘how do I stay on track during the holidays?’

Well, I would have two general answers for that.

PlyoFit

First, don’t beat yourself up about it. All the MINT members I know are working hard every day; at the office, the gym, daily lives. So, allowing your body (and mind) to rest and recover while enjoying the holidays isn’t a bad thing!

Secondly, don’t go into the holidays with an ‘all or nothing’ mentality. Don’t think that since you can’t make it to an hour of Power Playground, there is no point in working out. Just getting up and moving, like taking a walk after a meal will benefit you.

So, I’ve written this blog post for those with the motivation to shake off that food coma and get in a workout with my ‘Take PlyoFit Home With You’ workout that is modeled after my Monday night PlyoFit class, accommodated for at home with no equipment.

Below are 3 circuits, complete each circuit two times through – and stick to the appropriate rest times, get that heart rate up!

Circuit 1:

  • Jumping Lunges – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • Wide Leg Mountain Climber – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • Push Ups – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • Inchworm – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • Repeat!

Circuit 2:

Circuit 3

  • Squat Jump – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • Glute Bridge – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • V-Push Up – 45 seconds
  • 15 seconds rest
  • Bicycles – 45 seconds
  • Repeat!

Paige Fetzer is our Cycle Director extraordinaire. She also reached PlyoFit, MINTfuze and cycle at MINT.Paige Fetzer is our Cycle Director extraordinaire. She also teaches PlyoFit, MINTfuze and cycle at MINT.

Yoga Alignment Workshop: Cobra, Bhujangasana

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Disclaimers: Consult a doctor before beginning an exercise regime. Never force a pose.  Stop if you feel pain or intense discomfort.  Yoga is meant to be yummy.

I love vinyasa yoga and I am obsessed with good alignment.  This obsession doesn’t stem from a need for perfection, which would be very “un-yoga-like” of me, but from a passion for protecting the body from injury.  Most bodies can safely practice yoga on a daily basis, but maintaining sound alignment is essential to your physical wellbeing.  In this series, I will break down some common poses—explaining how to stay safe and fully enjoy each posture.  Finally, remember to BREATHE consistently while practicing yoga to receive the full benefits of the practice … otherwise, you’re just stretching in Sanskrit.  Today’s pose is Cobra, or Bhujangasana.

Cobra, or Bhujangasana
Cobra, or Bhujangasana
  • Start by lying on your stomach. Bend your elbows at 90-degrees, and bring the hands to rest on the mat near the top of your ribs.  Fingertips are spread wide and gripping into the mat.
  • Gently press the palms firmly into the mat and lift your torso up, shining your heart towards the ceiling.
  • Elbows are hugging in towards the midline, with the shoulders rolling down the back and shoulder blades coming together.
  • Gaze a few inches above where your hands are placed, or towards the sky. Whichever is more comfortable for your neck—depending on where you are in the pose.
  • Legs remain outstretched, with toes pointing behind you.
  • Flex the thighs and the buttocks.
  • Release any unnecessary tension in your neck and face.

Practicing yoga on your own can be a ton of fun, but taking a class is a great way to explore new poses under the tutelage of a trained yoga instructor; check out MINT’s yoga offerings, here.

Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle. When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney. She is also a MINT Ambassador. Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle. When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney. She is also a MINT Ambassador.

A 20 Minute Workout for the Incredibly Busy

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Being that Washington, D.C. is a city full of young professionals with busy schedules and various commitments, it’s sometimes easy to put exercise on the back burner.

For whatever reason, we have transitioned to a society that equates work out efficiency and productivity with the amount of time spent on the workout – this is sadly, not the case. Workouts do not have to be longer to be effective. A workout that is most effective is one that will have purposeful and movement based training.

What does this mean? Well, check out this great article! Just because you don’t have lots of time to devote to a workout, does not mean you can not engage in an effective, challenging and successful workout. This article describes how to create your own combination of movements, while also providing a sample workout to use for a 20-minute fix for the incredibly busy! Enjoy!

Pilates for Chronic Pain Management Workshop

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MINT (and master pilates instructor, Karla Adams) is hosting a “Pilates for Chronic Pain Management” Workshop on December 4th.

 

About the workshop:

WHEN: Sunday, December 4, from 4-5:30pm

WHERE: MINT Dupont 
COST: $59 for MINT members; $69 for Non-MINT members

 

Chronic pain is a burden. It robs you of sleep, makes movement feel extremely risky and eats away at your personal sense of power and strength. Whether you’re living with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Low Back Pain, Pilates will give you your power back by teaching you how to experience your body and its movement patterns in a different way.

Beginning with the essential elements of body awareness, breath and balance, you’ll experience Pilates exercises combined with the foam roller. Learn specific exercises designed for pain relief and structural re-education in a safe and supportive environment.

This 90 minute workshop is for those living with chronic pain as well as instructors who would like to learn more about working with this population.

 

Register (and pay in advance) here!

Karla Adams