Yoga: How to do the Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

The Chair Pose is very interesting yoga pose. I also learnt this in Pilates class as well. First stand upright and firmly on both feet. Next lower your buttocks down as if you are going to see on a low chair. You should bend lower enough to be able to place both hands on the floor. Once you are able to touch the floor, look up and stretch your arms upwards while stilling on the low imaginary chair. Hold this pose for about 10 to 20 seconds. You will feel a burning sensation on your buttock area. This pose is set to give you a well toned and nice butt.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Pilates: What to look out for when doing the Lumbar Stretch

When doing the lumbar stretch, do it slowly and not rush through this exercise. Rushing through this pose may cause you to pull a muscle.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Bay

Bay is best added to the following foods: Tomatoes, thyme, tamarind, seafood, artichokes, apples, bananas, beans, beef, blue cheese, poultry, potatoes, nuts, mushrooms, grains and figs.

Angels And Demons Part 11

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons .

Last night I finally finished reading the book. What a bizarre ending. Dan Brown’s a good writer but I don’t like the stuff mentioned about the Catholic Church. I hope other readers out there are able to recognize that some of it is really fiction. The story was compelling enough to make me hang on and turn every page. What is so amazing is his ability to keep a story going and going. He knows how to spin a story to make you believe it’s A but then he leads you to B instead. Sometimes C will just jump out and surprise you. Good guys are mistaken for bad guys and vice versa. To summarize, there are a few interlinking stories that keeps the story moving. The first act is the murder of the physicist/priest and the missing canister containing the antimatter. The second act is the race against time to save the four missing cardinals and Vittoria. The third act is on the antimatter and the bizarre revelation. If I could break the story down further and mind map the plot, the map would be a complicated web.

I’m going to get hold of the Da Vinci Code soon. Watch out for my review if you’re a fan of Dan Brown. Included in my reading list for this year are The Confession by John Grisham, The Girl who kicked the hornet’s nest and the rest of the series. Coming soon at a blog near you…..

Pilates: The benefits of doing the Lumbar Stretch

The Lumbar Stretch involves a few muscles groups in the lower part of your body. It is so relaxing that you can even do this before going to sleep. The muscles that you use for this exercise will be the lower back and butt muscles. This exercise can increase the flexibility of those muscles.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Angels And Demons Part 10

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons .

I was feeling tired last night but nevertheless, I spent one and half hours reading the next few chapters of the book. I thought I would be able to finish the book by last night but I was wrong. The story kept going and going. Robert made it back to the Vatican to interrupt a confrontation between the director of CERN and the Camerlengo. The whole thing didn’t look right. I know the writer has something else in store for his readers at this point in the story but he was smart enough to delay it in order to keep the story going. Then the camerlengo went into some bizarre behavior as a team of people followed him a few feet underground and then up into the air on a helicopter. It was all so bizarre and poor Robert followed the camerlengo all the way thinking he was going to dispose the antimatter in a barren place. He was wrong. The whole thing suddenly seemed like a suicide mission but I know that the main character will not die in the story. In the Lost symbol, we were also made to believe that Robert had died too. I stopped at the part when Robert did the unthinkable by jumping out of a helicopter without any parachute. Yep. I’ll only find out tonight how Robert will survive the fall back to earth. Will I finally get to the end of the book or will there be another twist bringing the story to another turn? To be continued in my next review.

Bananas are your friends

Here are a couple of reasons why you should eat a banana.

- Bananas contain potassium

- They are a great energy boaster.

- They can lower blood pressure

- They are rich in fibre

- They can treat constipation

- They can also treat diarrhea

- They can also treat heart burns and ulcers

- It is said that the skin of the banana can be used to soften calluses and corns too.

If you enjoyed this blog, tune in next week for another health tip. This section is updated every Tuesday, same time, same place. To view past blogs on health tips, click on the link that says ‘Health Tips’.

Angels And Demons Part 9

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons .

Throughout the weekend, I only managed to read a few chapters because I was busy. It seems like we’re having one climax after another in the story. Robert didn’t manage to save any of the cardinals and they all died pitifully. The last one was branded with the word ‘Water’. Just when I thought I had reached the climax of the story, there is a new development in the story. There is going to be another murder. As at this point in the story, we know that somebody known as ‘The eleventh hour Samaritan’ is coming to see the camerlengo and this person is going to kill and brand the camerlengo. According to the killer of the 4 cardinals, this person is the leader of the illuminati and this person is going to kill the camerlengo himself and Robert has no way of stopping him. Then in the next scene, we see the director of CERN approaching the camerlengo’s office. Ok, I see a parallel line to the Lost Symbol here. I have a feeling that there is a twist waiting for us in the story. It is going to shock us I know it will. Unfortunately, I was too tired to go on reading so I had to stop. I’ll find out tonight when I get back to the reading.

Pilates: How to do the Lumbar Stretch

The lumbar stretch is very easy to do. First you lie on your back and bend your knees. Bring both knees together. Then slowly bring your knees down to the left side of your body Feel the stretch and then bring your knees back to the center and then to the right side of your body.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Angels And Demons Part 8

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons .

Last night, I believe that I have finally come to the climax of the story. When both Robert and Vittoria got to the third church, the killer is waiting for them and they are all put in a difficult situation. (Yeah, this always happens in every story). In any good story, the writer will take away all the hopes of the protagonists and leave them in a vulnerable state. The leader of the Swiss Guard will be found dead on the floor which means they have no more backup. Then the killer takes Vittoria hostage. Yikes. Then Robert finds the third Cardinal facing death. He wants to help the cardinal but the killer appears and Robert has to hide and try to save himself first. Goodness what a whole lot of bad luck for them but without this bad luck, the story wouldn’t go well right? Back to the story, the poor cardinal dies and Robert is stuck in a pile of rubble. And the killer takes Vittoria away to the 4th Church where he will proceed to kill the last cardinal and harm Vittoria. Oh I forgot to mention that the third Cardinal was branded with the element Fire and they are now left with the last element Water. Robert is now on his own. He has to be careful not to make any calls through the walkie talkie because there are insiders who are working for the illuminati. I stopped at the part where Robert steals a car to race to the fourth church to save Vittoria and the last cardinal. All that took about 10 chapters of the book. I can’t wait to continue reading tonight.

Pilates: What to look out for when doing the Runners Stretch

When you do the runners stretch you have to make sure that both heels are flat on the ground otherwise the stretch is not so effective.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Angels And Demons Part 7

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons .

In last night’s reading of the book, Robert Langdon is still busy searching for the clue to the next place that the killer will strike. He is almost killed in the archives room when the oxygen and lights of the room were shut off but he survived. Meanwhile Vittoria is taken to see the body of the pope and she confirms that he was indeed poisoned. I stopped at the part where they are heading for the third church where the killer will strike. Thanks to the BBC news reporter, the killer now recognizes both Robert Langdon and Vittoria. He is waiting for them and has been instructed to kill them. I know they will definitely get out of this one because the good guys will eventually win. But since there is about a quarter of the book to go, I know that the killer will be allowed to flex his muscles. The climax of the story is almost here I guess. To be continued after my next reading tonight…

Mint

In some cultures, mint was believed to stir up bodily lust. Mint is best used with yogurt, tea, seafood, poultry, citrus, chocolate, carrots, beef, beans, basil, garlic, figs, fennel, eggplant, cranberry, coconut and coriander.

Angels And Demons Part 6

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons . Last night I read another 11 or 12 chapters of the book. Robert Langdon and his team managed to get to the second place in time but the place was too crowded. They didn’t spot the killer anywhere but they found the body of the second cardinal branded with the word “Air”. To make it worse, the BBC reporter had filmed the whole thing and released the footage to the media. I stopped at the part where Robert is back at the archives trying to figure out where is the next place that the killer is due to strike. Meanwhile, the rest of the team learned from the news that the pope did not die of a stroke but was poisoned by the illuminati and since only insiders are familiar with his medication, the person responsible is someone on the inside. I’m expecting a twist in the story. The character that we think is the most innocent will most likely the person responsible. So that’s where I stopped in the book so far. Till my next reading session….

Pilates: The Benefit of doing the Runners Stretch

The Runners Stretch is good for your lower leg muscles. The main muscles used are the gastrocnemius and the soleus.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Angels And Demons Part 5

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons . Last night I read another 10 more chapters of the book. The suspense was still hanging as we followed Robert Langdon and Vittoria in a race to stop the killer from executing the first cardinal. So it turned out that his guess of the first place was a mistake and they had less than 10 minutes to get to the right place which was a church that was under renovation. Well… they didn’t make it in time. The first cardinal was found dead and his body was branded with the first element “Earth”. Somehow I expected that they have to be late because there were another 300 more pages to the end of the story. To add more challenge to the story, a BBC reporter and his videographer had received a hot tip from the killer and they had followed and filmed the swish guards surrounding the place and they had a curious view of Robert climbing up a tall structure looking out in the distance. There’s no doubt that the news crew would be following Robert and the Swiss guards around. Would that alert the killer and put their lives in danger? Hmmm… Anyway, last night I stopped at the part where they sort of figured out where the second place of murder will take place. Will it be the right guess this time round? I’ll only find out tonight as I read further. To be continued in the next review…

9 reasons why you should eat raspberries

- Raspberries are high in antioxidants



- They contain vitamin C


- They contain iron


- They contain potassium


- They contain magnesium


- They are good for convalescents and people with heart problems, fatigue and depression.


- They can help treat upset stomachs and diarrhea.


- They have astringent properties


- They are a uterine relaxant.


If you enjoyed this blog, tune in next week for another health tip. This section is updated every Tuesday, same time, same place. To view past blogs on health tips, click on the link that says ‘Health Tips’.

Angels And Demons Part 4

And now back to my reading on Angels And Demons . The story has now come to the part where you have to solve a mystery and the answer will in turn will point to another mystery. Perhaps this is another good technique for keeping a story going with some added suspense. Something to learn from Dan Brown in story writing. Both Langdon and Vittoria first have to solve a mathematical code which will point to a trail art pieces. These art pieces will hopefully lead to the four places where the four kidnapped cardinals will be executed. If he can get there in time, he would be able to capture the killer and find where the canister containing the antimatter is located. The clock is ticking and the tension is there. During the weekend I read up to the part where Langdon and Vittoria are standing at the very first place where the killer will strike. Langdon has doubts and hope that he had solved the puzzle correctly otherwise they would have wasted the time of a group of Swiss Guards who should be elsewhere. They had earlier spent a long time trying to solve the puzzle on locating the first place. Did Langdon guess correctly? That’s where I stopped and will only find out tonight when I continue to read the book.

Pilates: How to do the Runners Stretch

The Runners Stretch is very easy to do. You can do this stretch before going for a jog or a run. First stand on 2 feet. Next, step the right leg forward. Next bend your right leg at the knee while keeping your left leg straight.Feel the stretch at your calf muscles. Hold this pose for about 10 to 15 seconds before repeating this pose with the other leg.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Dill

Dill is used to aid digestion and for calming the nerves. In some cultures, dill is used as a form of protection from witchcraft. There are also cultures that believe that bathing in dill can make a person irresistible to their lovers. Dill is compatible with the following foods: veal, tomatoes, chives, carrots, caraway, cabbage, beets, anise, seafood, potatoes, parsley, mint, fennel, eggs and cucumbers.

ANGELS AND DEMONS PART 3

Last night I read up to Chapter 30 of Angels & Demons . As I progressed through the story last night, I learn about the secret experiment that Vittoria and her father the priest/physicist were working on. They had been keeping it under the wraps for several months because they had only planned to reveal their work a few months later. They’ve recreated the big bang on a smaller scale. I recall that in real life, someone did really recreate the big bang on the news. I can’t remember whom. It didn’t matter much to me back then. Anyway, in this story, the scientists have created matter and anti-matter from the big bang. The energy produced by antimatter is so powerful that it can power up a town with electricity. However, if this antimatter falls in the wrong hands, it becomes a deadly weapon. Hmm. So is this fiction or fact? Gee…I don’t know but it is all very intriguing. Back to the story. The two scientists had created some anti-matter large enough to cause an explosion. They had stored it in their lab’s basement. The secret is only known to the 2 scientists but somehow, somebody knew about this anti-matter and murdered the priest/physicist to steal this antimatter. I stopped at the part where the director of CERN receives a call from some source that we still don’t know of at this point in the story. The missing canister containing the antimatter is in Rome. They have 24 hours to get to this canister before terrible things happen. (This is another good technique used by the writer. When the clock is ticking, the tension builds up. You can bet that the story will reach its climax at the point when the 24 hours is almost up by a few minutes) Then the director collapses because he didn’t take his medication. (He is ill and wheel chair bound). He then beckons to David Langdon and Vittoria to head to Rome before he is taken away by the paramedics. Good one there. With little information and a young Scientist, David Langdon, a university professor has to save Rome, just like that. Yep, that’s where I stopped. Every chapter has a cliffhanger without fail. Till the next intermittent book review…

Yoga: The Mental Benefits of doing the Garudasana Pose

This pose will train your mind to stay in balance. It also remedies flat feet and strengthens the whole leg muscles. Your spine will be lengthened and your blood circulation will be improved. Your posture will also be improved.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Yoga: The Physical Benefits of doing the Garudasana Pose

This pose will train your mind to stay in balance. It also remedies flat feet and strengthens the whole leg muscles. Your spine will be lengthened and your blood circulation will be improved. Your posture will also be improved.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

THE ATTEMPT TO KNIT A BETTER SOCK.

I had not touched my sock project during the Christmas break. Now that it’s the new year, I’ve picked up my knitting project again. I’m paying very, very careful attention on the direction of stitches for the stockinet stitch because I don’t want to make the same mistake as I did the last time. (Remember my earlier blog on the terrible sock I made?) Let’s hope that this sock will turn out more successful.  Lately I’ve also taken an interest in learning how to sew with the sewing machine. The problem is, I don’t have a machine to experiment on yet so I guess that project will have to wait. It’s a nice idea still…..

CAUCASIAN MAN AND ASIAN GIRL MAKING OUT IN PUBLIC

Recently a drunken couple was featured in the news after the New Year’s Eve party at the Siloso’s beach party. This really drunk couple started making out in public and they didn’t care if people were watching them. The Caucasian guy was necking his asian girlfriend while placing his hands in the front of her bikini bottom. People started taking out their handphones to snap pictures of the couple and that was how the pictures got circulated on the internet.  The next few days, this became a hot topic on the radio and forum pages. Some people were outraged by the Asian Girl’s behavior and some were cheering her on. Seriously, whenever there is a foam party mixed with alcohol, things can really get out of hand (no pun intended) like this case. Maybe they should ban foam parties if people don’t like drunken people to do hanky panky stuff in public.I wonder what the couple is thinking right now. They were featured on the news. Luckily their faces were not that clear…

ANGELS AND DEMONS PART 2

Last night, I read another 9 chapters of Angels And Demons . The story got more and more bizarre and the writer kept me hanging on to each page. First I learnt that the murdered victim who is a physicist has a daughter. Then when I found out that he is also Catholic Priest, it didn’t make sense. But a couple of pages later, it slowly began to make sense. The catholic priest had adopted a girl from a home. (is that possible in real life?) He then left the monastery to study physics which later landed him a job with CERN. (Can a person be a priest and a physicist at the same time?) Ok…interesting way of getting a reader’s attention. I’m skeptical of the story of the illuminati and the Catholic Church. Please tell me that it’s all fiction. Would the church really torture scientists because they chose a scientific theory over God? Come on! Something tells me that The Da Vinci Code is equally bizarre to Angels and Demons. In the Lost Symbol, we had a severed hand of a freemason member. In Angels an Demons, there is …. a stolen eye. Yucks. We are not told of why the eye is significant until a few pages later. (another hook). Yucks!!! Yucks! I’m not going to say why here. Puke! Anyway, that’s where I stopped last night. I can’t wait to continue reading tonight. Till the next review.

About Apricots and Respiratory Tracts

These are all the health benefits of eating apricots.

- Apricots contain high levels of beta-carotene.

- They can help fight infections of the respiratory tract.

- They are a rich source of iron which produces hemoglobin

- They can help anemic people

- They can treat mental fatigue

- They are good for people who suffer from anxiety and insomnia

- They have a source of oil that is good for the skin’s protection

If you enjoyed this blog, tune in next week for another health tip. This section is updated every Tuesday, same time, same place. To view past blogs on health tips, click on the link that says ‘Health Tips’.

REIKI

Lately, I’ve taken an interest in Reiki because it seems to work when I tried a bit of it from reading a library book about it. I’m intrigued by the fact you can use Qi from your body to heal yourself. I seemed to sleep better when I gave myself full treatment using the techniques described in the book. If I can heal myself from the indigestion problems , insomnia,  stress, constipation and what not, wouldn’t that be lovely? If there is a way to heal oneself without taking medication, why not? I’ve been considering taking the reiki course but unfortunately, the ones in our town is either a bit too far or the timing of the classes just ain’t right.  There seem to be so many online home study courses. I might consider those instead. Let’s see how it goes. Meanwhile, I’m  now practicing reiki on my own using instructions from a book.

ANGELS AND DEMONS BY DAN BROWN PART 1

Angels And Demons is the second Dan Brown book that I’m now reading. So far I’ve only read 9 chapters last night. The opening chapters seemed very similar to the lost symbol. David Langdon is once again rudely awaken in the wee hours of the morning by a caller who needs him to decipher a symbol for him. This time instead of a hand, we have a body of a physicist who has a symbol carved on the front of his body while is head is twisted the wrong way to the back. It is pretty gross. David is flown to CERN, a research facility located in Geneva, Switzerland from American in just one hour. It took 9 chapters for him to leave his home, fly in the superfast jet and get to the research facility. We’re about to view the body in the next chapter (I think…or will the writer still keep the suspense going?) but I was too tired to read further. The usual suspense element is there (boy, he’s good at that). Dan Brown is keeping me guessing and guessing. I will continue reading tonight again.

Yoga: How to do the Garudasana Pose

The Garudasana Pose is a much more challenging pose to do compared to the Tree pose. First you stand on 2 feet. Then you maintain your balance as you cross your right leg over the left leg while still standing up. Next cross your left elbow over your right elbow in front of you. Hold this pose for about 10 counts. Repeat this pose on the other leg and elbow.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

THE TOURIST

Ah. This is a cleverly written movie. The writers kept us guessing throughout the whole movie and it even ends with a twist! Yes. Very smart of the writers indeed. This story is about a secret agent who has to pick a guy on the train at random to deceive the other agents into thinking that he is the wanted fugitive. You won’t even know who Angeline Jolie’s real character is until the middle of the plot. In the beginning, she is just the wife or girlfriend of the fugitive. And then we learn she is a secret agent.  And better still, the innocent guy on the train turns out to be quite a surprise at the end of the movie. I won’t tell you yet if you haven’t watched the movie. This movie has no violence. There is absolutely nothing scary about it. It is very exciting to watch. Overall, I’d give this movie a 4 out of 5 rating.

GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

This movie is a modern day version of the original classic. I’d say the writer of this movie is very creative and clever in putting a touch of the ancient times mixed with the current century. Jack Black is very funny. The movie is portrayed in a cartoon-like way. Check out how the tiny people can build him a giant house within a short period of time. Despite their backward technology, they could also build a giant robot the size of a transformer. It’s funny and entertaining. I would give this movie a 3 out of 5.

MEET THE PARENTS: LITTLE FOCKERS

This is an enjoyable movie which is good for the family to watch. The star studded cast is back with more hilarious conflict between Father-in-law and son-in-law. This movie is a continuation of part 1 (Meet the parents) and part 2 (Meet the Fockers). But you still wouldn’t miss much if you hadn’t caught the 2 earlier movies. Watch how the family manage to pull themselves together despite all the wrong ideas flying  among them. I would give this movie a 3 out of 5.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1

This movie omitted lots of details from the book itself. For instance, we are not shown how sad Harry Potter’s  uncle, aunt and cousin were when they said goodbye to him for good. We all know how mean they were to him when he was growing up but as they parted ways, we will learn that they did love him like their own after all despite them hating wizards and witches. On eighteenth birthday Harry no longer needs a guardian to take care of him and his foster family now has to gone to a temporary place to hide just in case the bad wizards kill them. In the movie, you’ll see Hermonine casting a spell on her parents to remove their memories of her. People who didn’t read the book wouldn’t know why. She had to do it to protect her parents from the bad wizards too. Overall the movie was still very long but interesting. Perhaps that is why they had to break up the movie into 2 parts. Between the book and the movie, I’d say that the book is still better. I would give this movie a 3 out of 5.

Yoga: Mental benefits of downward facing dog (Adho mukha svanasana)

Did you know that the downward facing dog pose can help improve focus and stimulates the mind? This yoga pose also helps to relieve stress. I guess when your lower body is alleviated above your head and when the blood rushes up, that sort of helps stimulate the brain. However, you should avoid this pose if you have high blood pressure or a headache.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

Basil Leaves

This plant is a symbol of love, faithfulness and eternal life. It is also thought to be an aphrodisiac and a love portion in some cultures. In some cultures, it is thought to ward off evil spirits and insects. Some people believe that basil leaves can protect them from scorpions but there are also people who believe that it can attract them to scorpions.

Basil is compatible with artichokes, vinegar, thyme, seafood, rosemary, beef, blue cheese, coconut, eggplant, raspberries, poultry, peaches, olives, mushrooms, mint, leafy vegetable and garlic.

Yoga: Physical Benefits of doing downward facing dog (Adho mukha svanasana)

The downward facing dog is said to improve digestion and relieve insomnia. It can also provide some relief for those who are having menstrual cramps and lower back pain. Try it. It really works! The arms, legs and torso are also strengthened in the process of this pose. This yoga pose also gives a good stretch in the palms, chest, back, hamstrings, calves and feet.

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.

 

Why Lemons are Good for You

Here is a list of reasons why Lemons are good for your health:

- It contains Vitamin C

- It has antioxidant functions that are good for the body

- It can boost your immune system.

- It can treat infections of the respiratory tract

- It can treat boils and abscesses

- It can help in the healing of wounds

- It strengthens the walls of the blood capillaries

- It can be used as a form of detoxification because it is a liver stimulant

If you enjoyed this blog, tune in next week for another tip. This section is updated every Tuesday, same time, same place. To view past blogs on health tips, click on the link that says ‘Health Tips’.

Yoga: How to Do Downward facing dog (Adho mukha svanasana)

The downward facing dog is a very easy yoga pose to do. First you need to get down on all fours. Then slowly, straighten your legs while your hands are still on the floor and stick your butt up towards the ceiling. Keep your feet flat on the ground. As you do this, you will feel the stretch at the back of your legs and the blood rushing toward your head. This is a good stretch for your hamstrings. If your hamstrings are very tight then keep your leg slightly bent and heels off the floor. The counterpose for the Downward Dog pose is the child’s pose (Balasana).

Each week, I’ll try to update my yoga and pilates journal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, same time, same place. If you’d like to read the previous blogs on this topic, just click on the link that says My Yoga and Pilates Journal.