Category: Yoga for Students
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Yoga & Earthing: Benefits of Earthing, How Earthing Connects to Yoga
Many times in Alexandria VA yoga classes I’m teaching, I’ll start class with instructing students to notice their connection to the Earth. Even if we’re on an above-the-ground floor practicing yoga, the Earth’s pull is always there, helping us feel grounded and centered. Humans’ connection to the Earth is literally magnetic, as studies have shown…
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Yoga for Pregnancy: Yoga Benefits for Pregnant Women, Things to Avoid & More
Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can get your heart rate pumping, strengthen and tone your muscles, and help you maintain a healthy weight at any point in your life. Yoga is a great form of exercise for pregnant women, because many yoga poses are safe and effective to do during pregnancy. Pregnant women have…
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Yoga & Headaches: How a Yoga Practice Can Help With Headaches
Almost everyone gets a headache once in a while, with Harvard Health Publishing reporting 95% of women and 90% of men get them at least one a year. Some people experience them more frequently, with causes ranging from drinking alcohol, to sleep disturbances, to posture, to stress. Headaches may also be caused by serious issues,…
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How to Create a Themed Yoga Class
I’ve taught a lot of themed yoga classes throughout my time as an instructor. I find that choosing a theme helps unleash my creativity and offers something new to students who might be used to traditional sequences. Some themed yoga classes I’ve taught include: Many yoga classes will have a theme based on setting an…
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Yoga & Massage: How to Do Self-Massage in Yoga & How Massage Complements Yoga
Since I was a teenager, I’ve prioritized regular massages in my life. I work a very physical job, and my body craves massages. I try to go at least once a month. (If you want affordable massage in Alexandria, VA, I recommend A Great Massage. It’s $70/hour or $100/90 minutes, and every 10 massages, you…
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5 Reasons to Book a Private Yoga Class
Whether you’re a new yoga student or an experienced Alexandria, VA yoga teacher yourself, a private yoga class can provide myriad benefits. Private yoga can be more expensive than taking a class at a studio, but there are lots of advantages taking a single private yoga class could provide. Private yoga classes may be offered…
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Benefits of Closing Your Eyes in Yoga
In most of my Alexandria VA yoga classes, I’m always going to spend at least some of the time closing my eyes. During Savasana (Corpse Pose), which is typically the end of a yoga class, students are generally encouraged to close the eyes for the 5 minutes or so that close a yoga class. But…
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How Yoga Unlocks Emotions
Recently in an Alexandria VA yoga class I was teaching, I mentioned to some new yoga students the connection between yoga and emotions. We were practicing Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana), a hip opener, which is a pose that’s often associated with unlocking emotions. That’s because the hips are often associated with emotional storage. Moving…
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Yoga Binds: How to Do a Yoga Bind & Yoga Bind Benefits
I was talking with a student who’s coming to an upcoming class I’m teaching in June at an Alexandria, VA, arcade. I asked her if she had any requests for moves to include in the class, and she mentioned binds. This was an interesting request, one that I don’t hear often. She explained that binds…
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Virabhadrasana I: How to Do Warrior I & Benefits of Warrior I in Yoga
One of the most foundational poses in a yoga practice is Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I). This pose can be quite challenging, as the full expression of the pose has the yogi bringing their thigh parallel to the ground, which can be a big quad strengthener. I see yogis who have been coming to my classes…