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Yoga + Lifestyle
The word that embodies my focus for 2021 is renew. 2020 brought a lot of personal change, with the welcoming of our daughter, Beatrice. I allowed myself to shift priorities; a singular focus of getting know this new being and stepping into my new role as a mother. Now that I’m feeling more like myself and (kinda) getting the hang of being a new parent, I’m ready to renew my focus on health and wellness.
This one has been hard to come to terms with but, I have to put it out there. The physical asana of yoga does not serve this current version of my body. No doubt, postpartum, I will return to my mat but right now my body craves strength-based movements that will support my transition into labor and healing beyond.
If you’ve been around for awhile you may be wondering about the meaning behind YogaPlay. After nearly a decade of teaching yoga, I’ve found that most of my learning has come from a genuine curiosity in the body’s abilities. There was a time when I took my practice so-very-seriously and tried to walk the narrow path of what I thought a yogi should be and do. But somewhere along the line, I decided to throw out the rule book and walk my own path and do my very best to enjoy every minute of it.
YogaPlay was born out of a relentless desire to challenge my body within the realm of yoga and this long honored practice.
I’m often asked how to “get better” at yoga and usually I answer with some variation of practice more often. Then, after focusing for the last month on arm balances in my group classes, I’ve noticed more of my students inquiring on how to improve. So let me be super honest, practicing yoga once a week is great, really great in fact; but, the truth is, if you’re truly working toward physical gains in strength and flexibility one practice per week just isn’t going to cut it.
Read on for my recommendations if you’re hoping to deepen your yoga practice.
It's pretty safe to say that I own a few sports bras. Between teaching yoga seven days a week and also working out 3 to 6 times a week, I wear a lot of athletic gear. So when it comes to keeping the girls protected and secured I know a thing or two. I'm sharing a few of my favorite sports bra brands and why.
One of the biggest takeaways from our training in December is that no matter what it is you’re creating, consistency is key. So, without fail, I’ve met my personal deadlines of posting weekly and with an eye to share, teach, or provide value to all of you. Out of this, a few opportunities have come my way. The YBC team reached out to collaborate! I was sent their quarterly winter YBC Mantra Box® to review and enjoy and now I get to share it with you!
In this Yoga by Paige intermediate yoga video, we'll actively work on strengthening our legs and butt by linking standing yoga poses during our flow. Use this flow to help build strengthen one-leg standing poses and to increase hip stability.
In this Yoga by Paige intermediate yoga video, we'll spend time twisting in various poses to help lengthen the lower back, promote digestion, and find space in an otherwise tight area of our body. For a little fun, I've added in a sweep hop option if you are working toward building handstand strength as well. If you often find yourself with a tight lower back, this video is for you!
I previously shared my Sun Salutation A flow as a way to foster the connection with our breath, mind, and body. These repetitive movements allow us to get out of our heads and into the sensations in our body. As a result we feel more deeply connected to our intuition. We also begin to express our needs more clearly because we know them more intimately.
