www.louieyoga.com

Hello Friends!

Thank you for supporting this blog by reading and watching all the articles. Unfortunately I'm not using this blog anymore. Instead ,I am using a new website to share my yoga articles, videos, guides, vegetarian food, and fun! Please follow my journey on http://louieyoga.com/.

Love, Wisdom, Strength and Happiness to all. Namaste.

Part III - Stronger Lower Body: UNBREAKABLE CHAIR POSE

Do it light and comfortable.

Chair pose or Utkatasana is very popular in Yoga and Pilates. This asana strengthens the lower part of the body specially the thighs, ankles and calves; it also strengthens the spines. Utkatasana stimulates the heart and abdominal organs.

Chair pose is not so easy for me but I always give my best to do all the necessary adjustments to get the good benefit of this pose. This might be difficult for those who have tight hip flexors and super bendy back benders.

There are different variations on how to do the chair pose. But always remember these three very important requirements when executing the pose: 1. Always suck the belly in towards the spine 2.Tuck in the tailbone (which is very difficult for me) 3. Try to maintain the knees parallel to the feet.

Let me share to everyone the different variations of Utkatasana.


The classic Utkatasana.



 If you are having a hard time to raise the hands, put them down.

Take it to the next level, raise your heels up.

Once you felt the cramps or numbness, let go and release the pose. Always remember when practicing  do it light and comfortable. Namaste.

Dream Yoga Book

Quotes from the Amazing Dr. Seuss.

I am a Preschool Teacher during the day and a Yoga Teacher when the evening comes but my love for children is from 360 degrees,  from Monday to Sunday, 24/7, 525 Thousand 600 Minutes, 365 days.

I always dream of having my own Yoga Children's book and slowly I'm 'doing' the dream. Recently, I managed to asked the permission of some of the parents in the school if I can take a picture of their child doing yoga poses. I'm lucky enough that so far I received positive feedbacks.

They say the first part of the journey is the hardest. I can feel the need for so many things in making my dream into reality. I'm asking some of my friends who are in the business. Journalist, Illustrators, Photographers, Designers and of course the powerful internet.

I am hopeful of finishing this Children's Yoga Book. I know it's not easy. It might take years of work, well I hope before my age deteriorates, I will be able to publish this dream.

For now, Let me share some cute pictures of my students.



Arya and her Bow Pose.

Yin Ci in Cow Face Pose

Leonard in Bridge Pose.

I hope I will get more support from my 'school' parents, family and friends. Namaste.

Yogasana Check: Chakra Bandhasana



October 25, 2015
 A miracle happened after 2 weeks of Yoga absence because of fever.



Yoga teachers will always tell you, 'practice and all is coming'. I believe that and always will. I never imagine that full wheel pose will come to my practice in 2 years of my yoga journey. Now, I'm almost practicing nearly 3 years and I did not expect that I was able to grab my ankles from hanging my hands.

For some, my progress is very slow and for others it is tremendous hard work. But for me, its just fine.  I always rush to an asana when I first started yoga but now I learned that taking it slow will help you to move even more forward.

Practice yoga for your own inner self and soul. I am not practicing these advance poses because I will join a competition, I am practicing these poses because I know they have good benefits in my body. Yoga was not created to hurt humans, yoga was created to help humans.

 Practice the asanas for their amazing benefits and be happy. Namaste.

Part II - Stronger Lower Body: THE GREAT WARRIORS

BE A WARRIOR NOT A WORRIER.

 

The Warriors of yoga are definitely the most classic and remembered yoga asanas. These poses are not so easy especially when they are included in a yoga flow.

 

I personally love to teach these poses because it gives total work out to the body.

The requirements are not so easy that you need to engage every part of your body.

• Both heels should be grounded on the floor. (except for Warrior III)
• Finger tips, arms and shoulders should be engaged.
• Legs, quadriceps, hamstrings and thighs should be working to maintain the posture.
• Tuck in the tailbone and suck the belly in.
• Finally, BREATHE.

These asanas will surely give you a toned body especially the legs and thighs.

 

Warrior I

 
Make it a 'Humble' Warrior to stretch the hip flexors. Try to rest the forehead on the floor and raise the arms up towards front.

 

 Warrior II

 
Reverse Warrior II to stretch the sides, front and back of the body.

 
Warrior III

 
You can either point or flex the toes. To make it more fun, square the hips!

 I will definitely make a part III of this article. God bless us all! Namaste.

Part I - Stronger Lower Body: LUNGE POSE

Since 2011 I am working here in Singapore and I can say that there a lot of guys who are really buff. I am no muscular myself but I know what a 'proportioned' body looks like. I 've noticed that there are few guys that have a very nice upper body with big guns and 8 packs which is really incredible! What 'amazed' me even more is that some of them do really have smaller thighs and legs compared to their upper bodies.

I am not here to criticize or judge. I am here to share some simple asanas that will help these hunkies to have a better and toned lower body especially the thighs and legs.

For sure most of yoga practitioners will agree that Lunge pose or Anjaneyasana is not only good in stretching the hamstrings, quads and hips it also strengthens the thighs and legs.

You can do different variation of these poses. Remember, don't fit the pose into your body, let your body fit the pose. Relax and do what you can do.

If you are a beginner, try the most easy low lunge. Hands rested on the mat or hands up over your head. Feel the stretch in your hips, hamstring and quads.

If your back, chest and shoulders are open, try to do simple backbends or deep opening of heart as you wish as long as you are comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to do twisting after backbend, twisting poses are good counter stretch for the back.



After getting the hang of Low Lunge Pose, try the High Lunge for more intense strengthening of lower body muscles.

 

 
Remember, find your balance and focus. You can do different variations of High Lunge according to your capabilities. There are different variations of backbends, forward bends and twisting for this pose.

 

 
Listen to your body, don't forget to breathe. Some of you might experience breathing hard during twisting pose, it is because the upper  body is not yet fully open enough to create spaces for chest to breath comfortably.

 

 

Feel free to comment or suggest. See you all again next time for the Part II of this article. Namaste.

BEDasanas: Rest and Sleep with these poses

Sleep is the best meditation. -Dalai Lama

Have you felt being tired and sleepy but you can not sleep at all? I always feel that everytime I'm exhausted from work or when travel. My body and mind wants to sleep but my soul does not allow me to do so.

Let me share with you some asanas that help me to rest and feel relax at night and send me to dreamland afterwards. These asanas are my personal choices or variations for my own comfort. You might want to find your own sweet resting variation. Remember, you want to stretch to rest and sleep not stretch to refuel your body to become awake.

There are some forward bends that relaxes the mind and the heart like Butterfly pose or Baddha Konasana. This pose helps release fatigue from work.

Personally, Plow Pose or Halasana gives me a good stretch for my entire back especially lower back. This pose is a big help for back benders.  

Who doesn't enjoy 'Legs Up the Wall Pose' or Viparita Karani. This pose is very effective in regulating the blood flow.

Happy Baby Pose or Ananda Balasana, calms the brain and relieves stress.



Anulom Vilom or Alternate Nostril Breathing - This Pranayama relaxes the brain and removes the toxins in the body.



Finally, Sleeping time. Good night.

Take Note, There are so many poses that you can do, not just the pictures or asanas showed on this article. You can meditate or sing a prayer or a mantra. Sleep is very important, there are many reasons why do we need to have a better sleep at night.

Make your BEDasanas and sleep! Namaste.