We are here to admit this was our story. Cat reluctantly tried yoga after she had been babysitting for a yoga instructor who finally convinced her to try yoga sculpt. Yoga with weights reeled her in and was the gateway to hours on her mat and expanding her practice. She has been a faithful yogi for the last five years and continues to deepen her practice weekly. Lauren started yoga when she got her first official gym membership a year and a half ago. She gives credit to her initial love for yoga to her favorite teacher, Yoga John. She’s proud to say she continues to go weekly, regardless of the guide, because of the results she’s experienced both physically and mentally. She also conquered Crow Pose this last year which was a huge accomplishment.
We can say without hesitation we could not be happier we opened our hearts to yoga, and it has one hundred percent changed both of us.
Here are three of our favorite heart-opening poses to get you started:
1) Upward Facing Dog
Press your palms firmly into the floor, chest lifted and shoulders down and back. Reach the crown of your head towards the ceiling. Press the top of your feet into the floor, with legs and thighs lifted.
2) Camel Pose
Start with both knees on your mat, hip width apart. Lift your chest towards the sky while keeping your chin slightly tucked. Relax your hands on your lower back or, if you’re comfortable here, lean back onto your mat or touch your heels. Lift up through your pelvis, keeping your spine long and strong.
3) Upward Salute
Stand with your feet together and arms extended overhead, biceps by your ears. Press your weight evenly across the balls and arches of your feet. Tuck your tailbone slightly but don’t round out your lower back. Your shoulders should be down and away from your ears. Intertwine your hands and keep your pointer fingers extended. Keep your heart lifted towards the sky.
You don’t have to be in a yoga studio to open your heart or practice these poses. What if you tried a heart opening pose in the morning before starting your day? Think the tone of your day would be different? We can guarantee it would!
The thing we have both come to love about yoga is that the lessons we’ve learned on our mat translate to all areas of life. Sometimes the things we resist the most end up being the most amazing. What in your life do you need to open your heart to? What may be waiting just around the corner? What possibilities have you left undiscovered? We promise the answers to all of these questions are just a couple poses and deep breaths away.
