Ball-Bending, Beauty & the Beets!
by Dana Rae Paré
Ball-Bending
Spring is in full bloom and just as nature blooms and bends, so can your yoga practice. Keeping your spine strong and supple allows energy to flow and brings a sense of lightness and openness. Postures like upward-dog, bridge and backbends (which are part of all IY classes) awaken “prana”, your life-force within, and your interconnectedness to the nature that’s blooming around you.
Ball-bending at home is a great way to stretch and release tight and tired back muscles. It’s excellent for reversing the effects of poor posture, extended sitting at a desk, and/or to let go of your outer rigid shell. You’ll need a 9” ball as in the photo above (a basketball works well too) or roll up your yoga mat and then roll a blanket around it to create a ‘bolster’.
Begin on the ground with your knees bent. Place the ball behind the middle of your back and ease yourself down to your elbows. Take a few breaths, allow more weight to drop down onto the ball. Slowly lower your head to the ground (or a blanket). Carefully extend your legs and “let go”. (Lotus is optional!). Breathe slowly and deeply for 15 – 25 breaths. Reach your arms overhead for a deeper stretch. Reverse the order and come up slowly – notice how Great you feel!
Want more? Try my new “Art of Archery” home practice program.
Need more Ball-Bending? Try our IY-55 class on Thursday’s and Saturdays.
Juice This!
Greens are Great, but Beets are for Beauty! Along with a myriad of health benefits including heart health and cancer-fighting properties, beets are great for your skin. High in Vitamin C which helps promote collagen (and reduce wrinkles!), Folic Acid for healthy skin and hair, and Betalain, an anti-oxidant phytonutrient that protects against free radicals (pollutants and sun damage).
Here’s my favorite Hot Pink Drink recipe – Juice, Drink and Glow!
2 x tart green apples
2 x celery stalks
1 x handful of kale
½ – 1 small beet