Sun Salutations are an element of many yoga classes, and show up in some form in most of the classes I teach at the Ease Mountain Yoga studio. The transition between half-plank and upward facing dog can be tricky until there is enough strength and stability in your shoulders, core, and legs to move through it smoothly and without putting your shoulders at risk.

In this video, I demonstrate the use of props to support yourself in order to embody the posture and find your aligned form. The shoulder and elbows stay level in half-plank, to avoid too much downard pressure on your rotator cuff. During the transition to upward facing dog, the thighs do not touch the mat - the only 4 points of contact are your hands and the tops of your feet.  The support can help you glide through this transition, getting the benefit of the posture without all the strain.

How to have a yoga body: Take your body and do yoga with it. There you go. 

When you read the phrase "yoga body," what kind of body comes to mind? You may think of a body other than your own, but this practice is not just for certain kinds of bodies. There are aspects of this practice that are suitable for almost everyone.

It can be hard to get past images of young, thin, flexible people who put themselves into impossible-looking postures, but having a yoga body is not about whether you can turn yourself into a pretzel - it's about bringing intention and care to the present moment, tuning in to the body, and moving with awareness.  When you move your body in concert with the breath and earnestly commit to honoring yourself, you already have a yoga body - it is not some goal awaiting you in the future. Your yoga body shows up when you show up to practice yoga.

 Having a yoga mind holds equal importance to the physical postures we practice. Having a yoga body without also cultivating this yoga mind - one that is still, compassionate, spacious, allowing, and present - will only yield part of the benefit that arises when we commit to coming to the mat. The word "yoga" means "union," so when we bring the mind and body into a synchronous relationship, we are embodying the heart of what this practice is about. So maybe it is not so much about having a yoga body or a yoga mind - but developing a whole "yoga being."

Since our studio opened on June 1, I have had the pleasure of meeting and teaching people in an array of different bodies. It is a great privilege to bear witness to each of them - from the students who have never been in a class before they walked through our door to experienced yogis who have been practicing for four (or more) decades. What a gift it has been, to see all these yoga bodies - all shapes, sizes, ages, and levels of experience.  What great learning, to guide these students into postures and breath work that allows their "yoga beings" to emerge.

If you live near Ben Lomond, California & are interested in starting a yoga practice, I encourage you to drop by the studio and try a class. We teach all levels, but have a special place in our hearts for people who are new or are not "typical" yoga students. Your yoga body (and mind) are waiting for you!