Holiday Honey

Yoga Definition: Uddiyana Bandha

Isn't this term funky? I think its phrases like this that scare away non-yogis from giving yoga a chance. But it's actually a friendly posture. Aren't they all? "Uddiyana Bandha" refers to an "upward abdominal lock," particularly during standing postures (though it can be done seated and on all fours as well). Uddiyana Bandha has been attributed to eternal youth, since it supposedly massages  & balances the internal organs, and contains the prana (life force, energy, etc...) in the torso. Feeling irregular? The posture is said to ease constipation & stimulate digestion. Practice pulling your abs up and in during tree pose, moutain pose, or eagle pose, particularly towards the close of your practice while meditating. Imagine the energy flowing through your solar plexus and you'll feel infinitely powerful while simultaneously clear. Remember: up and in. You'll be Uddiyana Bandha-ing your way to freedom in no time =)

Coolest Concept Ever: Wanderlust Festival Blends Yoga With Live Music & Partying

Comprised of artists like Miachael Franti & Spoon, blended with prominent yoga teachers like John Friend & Shiva Rea, set on the mountains of Lake Tahoe 4,000 people spent three days getting limber and rocking out. Is this not the coolest thing ever? I can't imagine a more fun weekened. Wanderlust, a word meaning "strong desire or impluse to wander, or travel the world," was $170 for the weekend of yoga and rock'n'roll fun in the sun. How did this shebang get started?

“We want people to leave feeling better than they did when they came, transformed in some positive way,” stated Jeff Krasno, owner of Velour Music Group in NYC, who just happens to be married to Schuyler Grant, a yoga teacher.

Schuyler wanted “to incorporate the exuberance and the joy and the fun of a music festival, and the deeper experience of a yoga retreat,” and states “To go to a three-day fairly hedonistic experience where you’re going to be drinking, probably, and smoking a joint, maybe, and dancing all night, and then do yoga and walk away feeling good, how cool would that be?”

Their extensive list of sponsors included tons of brand names, all of which you'd expect to sponsor a festival of this calibur; including Burt's Bees, Luna Bar, and Gaiam. See you there next year?

Yoga Definition: Yoga Mudra [muːˈdrɑː]

What the h*ll is a Mudra? You may be thinking. Or perhaps you already know. Either way, I'll provide you with a bit of background this morning. This is one of those postures that, while in class you may wonder what it is, but it isn't quite life-changing enough to ask your teacher it's origins once you've sounded your final om. 

A yoga mudra is a symbolic gesture done with the hands. There are actually around 100 mudras, but perhaps the most common (even to non-yogis) is the index finger touching the thumb to form an "O" shape. The translation from Sanskrit of "mudra" is "seal of authenticity." This is formed to emotionally seal your practice, while simultaneously allowing energy to flow through you, and balancing the elements of nature within you. I like to form a mudra while meditating or proclaiming a personal mantra for the day. It can bring power to you and make you feel whole. Additionally, during times when you feel low on energy, it's beneficial to form your favorite mudra while chanting your mantra silently. It can restore your energy and purpose to the moment.

This next part is a bit "new agey. "The human body is said to have the five components of nature, and each finger represents one of those. The gestures correspond to teaching, protecting, balancing, and loving. For more information, check out this guide to the ten most popular mudras.

Holiday Honey Week In Review

This week we ran the gamut from bargain hunting to giving hugs to sexy shoes to swim suits (with a lot more in between)! Check out our best articles from the week: 

Sweet n' Stylish Garage Sale Scores - One woman's trash is another woman's treasure.

A Wheel A Day Keeps The Doctor Away Stretch your spine young.

Young Women & Alcohol Abuse - Feeling a little out of control? Read this.

Espadrilles - Miranda Kerr is a fan of these cool shoes that date back to 14th century Catalonia.

Miami Swim 2010 - The fun and sun were in full swing during this hot hot hot group of shows.

The Power of Touch - More reasons to reach out and touch someone.

Yoga Definition: Sun Salutation A

Surya Namaskara (IAST: Sūrya namaskāra) or "Sun Salutation" (in this case Sun A) forms a series of 12 asanas (or poses linked to breath) that alternate forward and backward bends. In Sun Salutation A, your teacher will instruct you to inhale as you extend or reach and exhale as you bend or contract.  

There are several Sun Salutations, which begin with Sun A, and are designed to warm up the body in preparation for a full practice. They increase muslce flexibility and honor the power of the practice. Sun salutations are the preliminary postures of yoga, but are intensely healing and rejunenating, even when practiced solely. Sun A begins and ends with Mountain Pose, with a series of asanas between. Even if you don't have time for a full practice, just practicing Sun A will open up your heart, head, and hotness all day long.

 

Yoga Definition: Yin Yoga

You've heard of yin yang, but have you heard of yin yoga? Yin yoga is joint centric whereas hatha, vinyasa, and other popular forms are more muscle focused. A yin yoga class will consist of gentler poses, held for several minutes at a time rather than the flow you may be used to. Yin yoga (and basically all yoga) is a healing art, not a performance art. Yin is meant to increase range of motion in connective tissues. Poses are usually held three to five minutes and include camel, butterfly, toe squat, and frog. Frog is one of my personal favorites, because I usually feel completely euphoric when I come out of it. This is due to tension release in the hips. For some intense healing and a challening but relaxing yoga class, get your Yin on!

 

A Wheel a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

The benefits of yoga are absolutely endless. And our post on the importance of spine flexibility tells you just how essential it is that you're striking your yoga poses as often as possible. Many even believe that the true judge of youthfulness is the flexibility of one's spine. I wish I had time to attend yoga every morning or afternoon, but unfortunately, I do not. However, one commitment I've made to myself was to get up into "Urdhva Dhanurasana" or "wheel" once each day- whether I attended yoga or not.

When I began this habbit just two weeks ago, I was able to stay in wheel for somewhere between 7 and 10 seconds. Guess what? Now, I can stay inverted for over 20 seconds now. Twenty seconds of my day to improve my overall health? Yes please. You should do this too. I'll let you know when I get to the one-minute mark.

Yoga Definition: Buddhi Yoga

Buddhi yoga is said to be the eighth and highest stage of yoga. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "yoga of consciousness." Yoga buddhi is a state of self-realization and pure awareness. This is the ultimate goal of yoga, which alone translates to "union" of the mind, body, and spirit. You know you reach Yoga Buddhi when you no longer have the "cravings of the mind," such as things, food, addictive substances, and etc... Essentially, you can just be. We all know that we practice yoga for it's benefits to your "booty," but maybe should focus on achieving inner "buddhi," for a heightened awareness and purer sense of self.

"we are the ones we've been waiting for."
                    -- the Hopi Elders

Upward Bow/Wheel Pose: The Benefits Of Yoga Backbends

The benefits of backbends in yoga are immense. They are essential in strengthening and stretching the spine. Most of our daily movements are forward bends or even slouches. Backbends help the spine reallign itself. Backbends help open the front of your body, especially your heart, shoulders, and chest, and are said to stimulate the reproductive and digestive systems. So imagine my discontent when I was completely unable to do upward bow/wheel pose, shown below. This is a pose that a lot of people are familiar with whether it be from childhood gymnastics, cheerleading, or just goofing around as a kid. I simply couldn't get up in the pose, and was jealous when I would see others, even beginners, pop up with ease (obviously jealousy and yoga don't go well together). I wrote on the yoga.com forum about my inability to do wheel, and was given the following advice from a fellow yogi:

Urdhva Dhanurasana requires opening in the shoulders and hip flexors. Without those there's little chance of coming up. Others will cite upper body and leg strength. The strongest of persons will not come up in the pose without requisite openings. I quickly heeded this kind soul's advice and got right down to business: opening my shoulders and hips. For three mornings straight I chilled in Goddess Pose while my hamstrings and hips were stretched and I reached each hand around the opposite hip, one at a time, to open my shoulders simultaneously. I also did some Balancing Half Moons, just to make sure those shoulders were good and open. Sure enough, today in class, I popped right up into wheel, otherwise known as "upward bow," or "Urdhva Dhanurasana" in Sanskrit. I felt waves of joy as I breathed my way through this thoroughly enjoyable pose. So if you have any trouble with this pose, as I did, remember: open shoulders + open hips = upward bow. Namaste.

Yoga: The Fountain Of Youth?

The yogis say that age should be determined not by your  number of years on the earth, but but the flexibility of your spine. Yoga almost inevitably increases spinal flexibility in the backs of practitioners, so therefore, the fountain of youth may be only a few OMs away! In addition, yoga may keep skin more youthful. You've all seen a stressed out person whose overworked, overwhelmed, or just overanxious.  Stress takes a major toll on skin, particularly on the forehead. Yoga eases your mind and therefore eases the largest organ of your body: the skin. This is done by reducing "oxidative stress," which is a major cause of aging and disease. Hop on your mat for a little sip of the fountain :)