The sport of Stand Up Paddling (SUP) has really taken off. It seems everyone these days is enjoying, or would like to experience, the feeling of “walking on water.” I just finished reading Suzie Cooney’s enlightening and informative blog on SUP, my boyfriend Adam Kelinson (author of The Athlete’s Plate – Real Food for High [...]
Embrace Vashistasana (Side Plank)
April 26, 2011 By 7 Comments
It seems like there are as many variations of asanas (poses) as there are teachers. Each school of yoga has its own philosophy about how to proceed with the physical asana. Each teacher reinterprets it for their style and each student adjusts it to fit their body. Your good judgment and awareness of breath will [...]
Embrace Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon)
March 30, 2011 By 10 Comments
I truly love a balance pose. Not because I love balancing or because I’m good at it (balance poses are anything but effortless for me), but because after falling out of a balance pose it’s always so clear that if you keep straining, it will never happen. Balance poses are really for improving your mental [...]
Yoga for Runners
March 14, 2011 By 14 Comments
Many of my favorite yoga clients are runners. Often the runner’s initial reaction to yoga is that it is a necessary evil that they have been told will target problematic areas of their body that hinder their ability to run long distances. So they sigh and, with reluctance, show up in my studio. But eventually [...]
Mini Yoga Practice: Banish Shoulder Stress
February 11, 2011 By 12 Comments
by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | Ever feel like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders? Well, your head does weigh about as much as a bowling ball. And unfortunately, our neck and shoulders are on the body’s frontlines for the battle against stress. Fortunately, it’s a relatively easy area to access and release on your own with some simple yoga asanas that you can do almost anywhere…
Yoga for the Holidays
December 10, 2010 By 2 Comments
Is holiday stress bringing out your inner Scrooge? Looking for something (anything!) to help you stay “in the spirit”? Let us help you strike a balance with Athleta’s very own yogini, Hannah, sharing her favorite yoga poses and practices for maintaining a healthy state of mind, body and spirit…
Mini Yoga Practice: Hip Opening
September 20, 2010 By 16 Comments
by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | One of my first yoga teachers called the hips “the attic of the body.” Like the attic with its forgotten clutter, we frequently forget about the tension in our hips. Hip tension caused by too much sitting, and even by being active if you’re a runner or cyclist, can lead to low back pain and physical and emotional stagnation…
Chandra Krama: Summer Yoga
June 23, 2010 By 5 Comments
by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | Summer’s in full swing, and while that means lots of good things, it can also feel a little too hot sometimes. Most of us love the chance to get outdoors more often to enjoy warmer temps and longer days, but too much heat and humidity can feel oppressive…
Cowgirl Yoga: Poses for Riders II
May 4, 2010 By 11 Comments
by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | It’s a bit amusing what some people imagine Cowgirl Yoga to be when they first hear of it: visions of handstands in the saddle, hanging upside down off the horse, or wild arm balances at the gallop all seem to dance through their heads. The reality is, riding and yoga are separate practices on the physical level…
The 5 Warrior Warm-Up
March 29, 2010 By 15 Comments
by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | I know some of you out there aren’t yoginis. You’d rather lace up your running shoes, hop on your bike, or do whatever other activity calls your name. I know your type well, and I must admit to having a part in bringing many of you to the yoga mat — even if it’s just for a few poses — because my philosophy is that yoga helps you do anything better, and it’s my mission to prove it. This is my attempt to get you to sprinkle some yoga into your workout, the quick and easy way…
