Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts
Have you ever heard someone say that?
“Use your core!”
Maybe it was a trainer, a dance teacher, or perhaps a yoga instructor! That’s because (as I’m sure you already know) your core muscles are imperative to protecting many other parts of your body!
We wouldn’t be preaching (aka screaming) it so much if it wasn’t important.
There are many types of core workouts and exercises specifically for your abdominal muscles. And I’m not saying they’re ineffective. They are, when done correctly.
Part of the problem is that people don’t do the exercises correctly.
The other part of the problem I’ll discuss below.
Or, if you wanna check out my Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening on myYogaTeacher, you’ll see the differences for yourself! We’d love to have you!
Not a myYogaTeacher member yet? Really?! You’ve got to check it out. Get your 2-week free trial here and experience my class and over 35 others. There’s a yoga class for everyone. Literally!
In the meantime, let’s dive into how yoga for your core is different – and more beneficial – than traditional core exercises.
Yoga for your core is more efficient
Why would you spend all your time conditioning individual muscle groups when you could be working multiple muscle groups all at once?
Yoga is a dynamic practice. Meaning you’ll be working your core while doing everything from something simple like tree pose to something more complicated like plough pose.
And everything in between. There is almost never a time during a yoga session when you’re not using your core.
Except in savasana, of course. Where you absolutely deserve to not use your core!
And speaking of dynamics…
Yoga for your core is much more dynamic
So not only are you using your core in almost every single yoga pose, in ever single yoga session, you are using those muscles differently than you would with traditional ab exercises.
For example, in boat pose, you’re working your upper and lower abdominal muscles, even your obliques. You’re also working your thighs, glutes, and your arms! All in one move.
There are lots of yoga poses specifically for your core muscles.
Plank, for instance. Plank is a part of a regular yoga practice or flow. You’ll work your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, thighs and every single ab muscle you’ve got.
Trust me. You’ll feel it!
Any core yoga pose will work more than just one muscle group, unlike traditional ab exercises.
Yoga for your core is safer
Do you know how easy it is to injure yourself doing traditional ab exercises?
It is. Mostly because people do the exercises incorrectly. Which is easy to do when you’re tired or straining one group or set of muscles.
Crunches, for instance. A seemingly simple exercise.
When you’re tired or your core is tired, you will have a tendency to pull on the back of your neck or lead with your head instead of your abs. This puts a ton of strain on your neck and spine and can cause injury.
Using various different ab machines can put strain on other muscles and not even help you strengthen your abdominal muscles at all.
There are plenty of other examples I could give, but suffice it to say that yoga is just safer. One, you’re using your core even when the asana isn’t focused on your core. Two, yoga is all about body awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self.
Which means if you’re straining in areas where you shouldn’t be, you’ll realize it fairly quickly and know how to correct it.
Yoga for your core provides variety
You know traditional core workouts are boring. I’ll admit it for you so you don’t have to.
Does anyone actually like doing ab workouts? No, probably not.
That’s because they are the exact same “tried and true” exercises that have been taught and preached to us for years and years and years.
But guess what? Yoga is older than those exercises! (You probably knew that already)
There are hundreds – possibly thousands – of different yoga flows. There are over 20 different types of yoga. Combined with the many different yoga poses, this means that the possibilities of core workouts are almost endless!
You could probably do something different every single day for the rest of your life!
Can you say that about traditional ab workouts? No. Because it’s the same exercises just in different sequences. There’s usually only one way to do them too. Which is very limiting.
Yoga flattens your belly
Isn’t that what we all want?
Flatter, stronger abdominal muscles?
A strong core protects our back, our entire skeletal system. Having a flat tummy helps prevent things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and even asthma!
Something you don’t get with traditional abdominal exercises is cardio.
Not all yoga provides cardio, of course, But there are many types that do. As a matter of fact, some types of yoga burn more calories per hour than many conventional exercises like running, the elliptical, or swimming.
The point is, yoga is a safe, healthy all in one form of exercise with benefits that far exceed a strong core and loss of belly fat!
Want to see for yourself? Take my Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening class for a test run! Let me know you read this blog post and I’ll be sure to talk about it in class. If you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you definitely should. Here’s the link again to get your 2-week free trial. You’ll have access to all the classes that MYT has to offer and can even chat with the instructors, all of which are expert yoga teachers!
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{"slug":"yoga-for-core","recentPosts":[{"id":"cldebisqj8am10bk2riasiyyy","slug":"self-love-yoga-event","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Self Love Yoga & Meditation Event: Empower Yourself This Valentine’s Day","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Empower yourself this Valentine's Day with our Self Love Yoga & Meditation Event. Find inner peace and self-acceptance through yoga and meditation practices","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-27T09:24:55.671424+00:00","coverUrl":"rvpz4az7wyk8pdo4fvyg.png","content":{"text":"Announcing our free Self Love Event February 13-14!\\n\n\\nEmbrace yourself and practice self love this Valentine’s Day and every day with the help of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga teachers.\\n\\nYoga has been a powerful tool for self-improvement and personal growth for centuries, and self-love yoga is no exception. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with self-doubt, self-criticism, and negative self-talk. Self-love yoga can help to change that by promoting self-acceptance and self-compassion.\\nThis special yoga and meditation event\\n focuses on building self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-compassion through a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices.\\nSelf-love is the foundation of all healthy relationships, including the relationship with ourselves. Without self-love, we cannot truly love and accept others!\\n\n\\n\\nHow to join the Yoga for Self Love Event:\\n\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\n\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know! We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nMake this event the start of something wonderful for your mental, emotional, and physical health! So you, too, can be happier, more self-confident, and more productive!\\n\\n\\nNurturing Relationships Through Self Love \\n\\nMonday, February 13 at 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST\\n\n\\nSelf love isn’t selfish! It’s critical to creating deeper, more meaningful relationships and becoming the best version of yourself you can be! Join us in this discussion based self love class with a guided meditation and walk away prioritizing your health and happiness!\\n\n\\n\\nEmbrace Yourself: Balancing the Heart Chakra\\n\\nTuesday, February 14 at 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST\\n\\nReady to love yourself (and others) more and better? Need more compassion and kindness in your life? Join this yoga for self-love class designed to open your heart chakra and help you walk away feeling empowered to have more meaningful relationships and showing more love\n\\nThis special event will offer a unique opportunity to nurture yourself and discover the power of self-love. Don't miss out on this transformative experience. Sign up today and awaken your inner strength and self-love.\\nAnd don’t forget to check out other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\n\n\\n\\nAnnelise Piers\\n\\n\\nShika Sood\\n\\n\\nSwati Dalvi\\n\\n\\nAbhishek Bodhi\\n\\n\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\n\\nRohan Shroff\\n\n\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Self Love Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":["myYogaTeacher"]},{"id":"clczdmysytyzn0ak616x0ikhn","slug":"yoga-for-fitness-event","author":null,"title":"Join the Yoga Movement: Free MyYogaTeacher Yoga for Fitness Event for Everyone!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Join MyYogaTeacher's new free Yoga for Fitness Event starting soon and get fit faster with yoga!","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":["Fitness","HathaYoga","Ashtanga","Yoga","Vinyasa","Hatha"],"createdAt":"2023-01-16T22:27:36.746406+00:00","coverUrl":"fegu2jin0qfhgaefpml6.png","content":{"text":"Are you ready to get fit, flexible, and unleash your inner radiance?! Don’t miss our 3-day FREE Yoga for Fitness Event January 29-31!\\nYoga is a great way to improve your flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as reducing stress and promoting relaxation. This event will feature a variety of yoga styles and levels to suit everyone from beginners to experienced yogis.\\nOur authentic, expert yoga instructors from India will guide you each day through sessions focused on improving your physical fitness and overall well-being. Plus, the even is completely free, so there’s no excuse not to come give it a try!\\nHow to join the Yoga for Fitness Event:\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know! We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\nDiscover all the best ways yoga can help you get fit fast. So you can live your life to the fullest and move with more ease.\\nWe've put together an entire schedule of yoga for fitness classes dedicated to helping you relax and sleep better.\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and exciting event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\\n\\n Hatha Yoga for Physical Fitness with Ankit\\n\\nSunday, January 29 at 6:00 am PST/ 9:00 am EST\\n\\n\\nHatha yoga is focused on the physical practice of yoga and is perfect for helping you build strength, get fit, and improve flexibility. Bonus? You’ll feel more relaxed and rejuvenated after this hatha yoga class! Join us for asanas, Sun Salutations, and other strength building poses!\\n\\nFind Fitness in Flow: Vinyasa Yoga with Monica\\n\\nMonday, January 30 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\n\\nReady to get fit while finding your flow? The fluid movement of this challenging vinyasa yoga class is perfect for building up a sweat, improving flexibility, and building strength, making it a perfect class for overall fitness! Join us!\\n\\nAshtanga Yoga for Increased Fitness with Sujit\\n\\nMonday, January 31 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\n\\nDo you like structure in your yoga class? Need a workout focused on building strength through muscle training? This is for you! Join the ashtanga yoga class designed to help you get fitter and stronger faster!\\nWhether you're looking to improve your physical fitness, reduce stress, or simply try something new, our free yoga for fitness event is the perfect opportunity. So come and join us, and discover the many benefits of yoga for yourself!\\nExperience getting fit in a way that works for you and \\nwith\\n you! We’re here to support you on your journey now \\nand\\n when the event is over!\\nSo join us for this free event! And don’t forget to check out other fitness related yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n\\n\\nShweta Jain\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nMonica Agarwal\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nArchana\\n \\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Yoga for Fitness Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"clct2nkfx04xw0bk3fr4lrcjp","slug":"yoga-poses-for-osteoporosis","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"8 Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis: Maintaining Bone Health","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga can prevent and in some cases reverse osteoporosis and osteopenia by stretching and strengthening muscle tissue to rebuild and maintain bone density.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to prevent osteoporosis with a few simple yoga poses.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-12T12:33:31.959847+00:00","coverUrl":"pmkhkhuxo5s9dq2qkevm.jpg","content":{"text":"Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis with Yoga\\n\n\\nIf you suffer from the painful symptoms of osteoporosis, or if you are at risk of developing this limiting disease, there is help (and health) in starting your own regular yoga routine. In fact, doctors are now prescribing yoga as treatment and prevention for osteoporosis and osteopenia, making it an important part of maintaining physical health and wellness throughout your 50s and 60s — and beyond.\\n\\nOsteoporosis and osteopenia are conditions that commonly emerge throughout our later years, and if left untreated they can affect your mobility, bone density, and even your ability to remain self-sufficient. These conditions cause bones to be come weak and brittle, and over time more vulnerable to fractures and even breakage. \\n\\nBut a recent\\n \\n2016 study\\n discovered that yoga can be used in conjunction with other treatments to prevent the loss of bone density and in some cases reverse early onset of osteoporosis. Plus, as an added benefit, yoga is also a low-cost and low-risk treatment option, meaning there is little to lose by giving it a try.\\n\\nHow Yoga Can Treat Osteoporosis\\nThe process by which yoga treats and prevents osteoporosis is simple — through stretching and strengthening your muscle tissue you can build bone density and prevent fractures. Yoga postures exert subtle force upon your bones, prompting them to build up density and become stronger.\\n\\nYoga also improves your balance, which can help prevent falls — which may result in fractures or breakage. Along with building strength and flexibility, yoga also increases your mobility, endurance, and energy levels, helping you stay active no matter your age.\\n\\nIt should be noted that yoga may not cure osteoporosis on its own, and for some advanced cases it may not be effective in reversing this disease. Results vary on an individual basis, depending on your age, bone density, and other factors such as weight and co-existing conditions\\n\\nPracticing Yoga for Osteoporosis\\nIf you’re thinking of starting your own yoga regimen to prevent or reverse osteoporosis, there are a few things you should know. It’s important to first consult your doctor before practicing yoga for osteoporosis or osteopenia, to find out if there are any specific precautions you should be taking and whether or not it’s a safe activity for you. \n\\nPatients with advanced osteoporosis who have suffered fractures, breaks, or acute bone loss may need to avoid practicing yoga. If you’ve recently undergone surgery or if you’re still healing from an injury, you should wait until you’ve fully recovered before getting started.\n\\nMost importantly, you should take care to listen to your body when practicing yoga for osteoporosis. If a particular yoga pose causes pain or strain on your bones or joints, stop for a moment and take a break. Or, try using a modification like a bolster, block, or yoga blanket if applicable.\\n\\nIn their 2016 study, scientists found that the best results for using yoga as treatment for osteoporosis came from regular practice. Try performing yoga poses at least 3-4 times per week, or daily if you can. The more regularly you practice, the more bone density you’ll build, and the more strength and balance you’ll develop in your body.\\n\\n8 Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis:\\nIf you’ve been cleared by your doctor to practice yoga and you’re ready to get started, there are some simple yoga poses you can do at home to help prevent osteoporosis. You can also try taking a yoga class specifically designed for patients with osteoporosis. Here at\\n \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n, certified instructors can help you stay safe and injury free while giving you the independence to practice yoga in the comfort of your home.\\nReady to get started? \\nFollow the steps below to begin your own personal yoga journey.\\n\\n1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)\\n\\nThe foundation of all balance poses, Mountain pose helps you find stability and improve your posture.\\nStart by standing at the front of your mat. Keep your feet hip distance apart, and you can rest your arms at your sides or bring your hands together in prayer formation. Inhale and feel your chest opening and your collar bones widening as you focus on balancing your weight proportionally on both of your feet. Gaze straight forward and maintain this pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n \\n2. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)\\n\\nFrom Mountain pose, you’ll begin to transition into Tree pose to further improve your balance and stability.\\nBring your awareness to your left foot and firmly ground it into the mat. Begin to shift your body weight to your left foot, while gently lifting your right foot. Depending on your ability to balance, you can place the sole of your right foot on your left calf or thigh. As you do this, be sure to keep your pelvis aligned, your spine straight, and your gaze focused forward. Give yourself a moment to steady yourself, and then, if you feel comfortable, press your hands together in prayer formation. Hold for 5-6 deep breaths and repeat on the other side, then return to Mountain pose.\\n \\n3. Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana 2)\\n\\nThis standing pose also improves your balance and builds strength in your legs and core. If you have trouble balancing and wish to modify this pose, try practicing it next to a wall or with a chair.\\nMove to the back portion of your mat and step your right foot forward. Your right toes should be pointed forward and your left (back) foot should be kept parallel with your mat. Bend your right knee at 90 degrees, taking care not to overextend. Your right knee should not move forward past your toes. With your hips evenly squared, stretch your arms out to both sides, so that your right arm extended out in front of you and your left arm behind you. Open your chest and focus on activating your legs so that you are grounded into your mat. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n4. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)\\n\\nThis pose also requires strength and balance, and can be modified by performing it next to a wall. You can also place a block next to your front foot for easier hand positioning. \\nJust like with Warrior II, step your right foot forward for Triangle pose, keeping your left (back) foot parallel with your mat. Inhale and stretch out both your arms the same as in Warrior II, but keep your right leg straight with a slight, soft bend in your knee. As you exhale, hinge at your hip and bend forward, placing your right fingertips on the floor, or you can place your hand on the block positioned next to your right foot. Turn your upper body and reach your left hand toward the ceiling, and either turn your head to gaze up at your hand, or keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Hold for 3-5 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n5. Cat-Cow Pose (Chakravakasana)\\n\\nThis pose is excellent for increasing mobility in your spine and hips.\\nMove to a tabletop position on your mat, with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. Feel the stretch in your chest and abdomen. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n \\n6. Locust Pose (Shalabhasana)\\n\\nLike Cat-Cow, Locust improves your spinal mobility with a soft backbend, but in this pose you will also be working your core muscles, glutes, and shoulders.\\nFrom Cat-Cow, lower yourself onto the mat so that you are lying face down on your stomach with your legs extended straight and your arms at your sides. On your inhale, strengthen your core and lift your head, legs and arms at the same time, balancing your body on your lower abdomen, pelvis and upper legs. Engage your glutes and press both of your legs together while holding them up. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths, and then relax back onto your mat.\\n \\n7. Child’s Pose (Balasana)\\n\\nAfter the strengthening work of Locust pose, give your body a rest with Child’s pose\\nAfter Locust you’ve likely returned to lying face down on your mat. Press your palms and knees into the floor as if you were rising back into tabletop position, but this time bring your hips back so that your buttocks are resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Extend your arms forward so that your palms are resting on the mat in front of you, and bring your forehead to the mat. Breathe gently and allow your body to fully sink into this pose, supported by the floor. Hold for 5-6 minutes.\\n \\n8. Corpse Pose (Savasana)\\n\\nAfter practicing the above stretching and strengthening poses, it’s important to let your body fully digest the movement by resting in Corpse pose. \\nCome to a seated position on your mat. Slowly lower your body to the floor, so that you are lying flat on your back with your legs extended straight and your arms at your sides, palms facing up. Close your eyes and bring your focus inward. Bring your awareness to your body and check in with each and every body part, noticing if you feel any tension and allowing yourself to fully relax. Soften your face, neck, and shoulders, and let yourself melt into your mat while visualizing any tension leaving your body. Rest in this post for 5-7 minutes."},"category":["pain_management"]},{"id":"clct29qar2mln09k7b9xhmih5","slug":"8-yoga-poses-for-psoas-pain-relief","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"8 Yoga Poses for Psoas Pain Relief","subTitle":"Learn yoga poses that target your psoas muscle to relieve pain.","seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"By practicing a few specific yoga poses, you can directly stretch the psoas and surrounding areas, relieving tension, pain, and stiffness\n","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-12T12:22:46.336259+00:00","coverUrl":"fitbgltpzxzyqblmzhjg.jpg","content":{"text":"Possibly the most integral muscle group in your entire body, the psoas governs the central functioning of your core. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to move properly, walk, stand, or do much of anything, because the muscles in this group also attach your legs to your spine.\\n\\nIssues with your psoas can be deeply painful, and it’s a difficult area to massage. The psoas major, psoas minor, and iliacus combined make up your iliopsoas, commonly referred as simply the psoas. And when the psoas is unhappy, it can cause symptoms with a range of severity, from slightly uncomfortable to totally debilitating, like difficulty walking or standing upright, lower back pain, and pelvic pain. \n\\nAthletic injuries, prolonged periods of sitting and surgery can affect the health of your psoas, and if you’re experiencing a tight and shortened psoas, it’s likely you’re also suffering from weakness and pain. You can relieve your symptoms and fully recover from psoas issues by stretching and strengthening this important muscle group with yoga. \n\\nHow to Relieve Psoas Pain\\n\\nPsoas pain can affect the entire structure of your body, causing adjoining muscles to become overworked and your posture to become off-kilter, leading to widespread chronic pain. Yoga can help correct issues with your psoas and get you back to feeling balanced again. By practicing a few specific yoga poses, you can directly stretch the psoas and surrounding areas, relieving tension, pain, and stiffness.\\n\\nIt’s important to also strengthen the psoas to enable your body to function properly. A weak psoas can put enormous strain on your surrounding muscles and joints, and a strong core is essential for your physical health. By lengthening and strengthening your psoas at the same time, you can correct issues and reduce pain.\n\\nIf you’re suffering from a tight or weak psoas, try practicing the yoga poses below on a regular basis to start the healing process.\n\\n8 Yoga Poses for Psoas Pain Relief\\n\n\\n1. Low Lunge Pose\\n\\nLow Lunge is an easy pose to start lengthening your psoas muscles, and you can adjust this position to stretch as deeply as you feel comfortable.\\nFrom a kneeling position, start by bringing your left foot forward and bending your left leg at the knee. Inhale while reaching your arms over your head, keeping them parallel with the sides of your head. Allow your chest to expand and lengthen your spine. Remember to keep your chin level and your gaze focused straight ahead. Repeat on the other side.\\n \\n2. Tree Pose\\n\\nTree pose strengthens and stretches your psoas muscles by isolating the area building strength through balance.\\nStand in Mountain pose and place your feet hip distance apart, arms relaxed at your sides. Gently shift your body weight to your left foot and bending your right knee, lifting it upward. Place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh. Keep your spine and head straight, with your gaze facing forward. Give yourself a moment to steady your balance, bring your hands together in Namaste formation. Hold for 5-6 deep breaths.\\n \\n3. Boat Pose\\n\\nOne of the best asanas for your core, Boat pose strengthens your abdominal muscles for better balance and posture.\\nStart by sitting with your legs stretched out in front of you and your arms at your sides. Lean back slightly so that your weight is evenly balanced. Inhale, engage your core, and exhale as you lift both your legs to a 45 degree angle, and extend your arms straight out alongside your legs. If this pose feels too difficult, try bending your knees and bringing your hands behind your knees for support. Keep your spine long and your core engaged as you hold this pose for 30-45 seconds.\\n \\n4. Knee-To-Chest Pose\\n\\nWhen your psoas is in pain and walking or standing upright feels difficult, Knee-To-Chest pose offers a supine stretch that can relieve your symptoms.\\nLie down flat on your back with your arms at your sides. Inhale, and then as you exhale, bring your right knee to your chest. Thoughtfully extend and stretch your left leg until you feel the tension begin to release from your abs and inside your hip. As you hug your knee to your chest, remember to breathe and focus on allowing your core to fully relax. Hold for 30-60 seconds and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n5. Dancer’s Pose\\n\\nLike Tree pose, Dancer’s pose works to strengthen your psoas through balance, with a deep stretch that lengthens all of the muscles in the front side of your torso. \\nStand in the middle of your mat with your weight evenly balanced on both feet. Transfer your weight onto your left foot while bending your right knee and grabbing your right foot with your right hand. Lift your left arm up toward the ceiling. Bend at your waist and slowly lean forward, lifting your right leg and engaging your core. You can deepen the stretch by creating some resistance — simply push outward with your right foot while pulling in with your right hand. For better balance, focus your gaze on a fixed point in front of you. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then repeat on the other side.\\n \\n6. Supported Bridge Pose\\n\\nSupported Bridge pose uses a yoga block to both support your weight and lengthen the muscles in your core and inside your hips.\\nStart by lying on your back with your knees bent and a yoga block placed nearby. On your next exhale, tuck your chin and lift your hips, being careful not to allow your knees to splay outward. Take your yoga block and place underneath your lower back, supporting your weight and providing a deep stretch to the frontside of your pelvis. Stay in the pose for 30-60 seconds.\\n \\n7. Reclining Hero’s Pose\\n\\nBy modifying Hero’s pose to a reclining position, you can gently lengthen your psoas and stretch your quad muscles.\\nKneel on your yoga mat and rest your buttocks on the backs of your heels. Sit with your spine straight and inhale, and as you exhale, begin to gently lower your torso to the floor. You can move slowly, lowering yourself onto your back one vertebrae at a time. Rest your hands on your chest or reach your arms above your head to increase the stretch. Once your are resting on your back, you can also bring your focus to your hips and allow them to rise slightly upward for a greater stretch in your psoas minor.\\n \\n8. Cobra Pose\\n\\nCobra pose lengthens your abdominal muscles and releases tension in your lower back.\\nLie on your stomach with your legs extended, arms folded under your head and your chin resting on your forearms. Place your hands at the level of your chest and press down with your hands. Slightly lift your head off the mat, keeping your head and back aligned, and press your thighs together. Now, steadily pull your elbows towards your ribs and align your hands and shoulders. On a deep inhale, press your hands into the mat, curl your shoulders backward, and lift your upper body off the mat. Make sure to gaze upward and press your hips into the mat to target your psoas. Hold this position for a few breaths and then rest."},"category":[]},{"id":"clckc2txxldwd0ajx6v2ewnfg","slug":"everyday-selfcare-event","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s Free Yoga for Everyday Self Care Event","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Daily self-care yoga event for relaxation and rejuvenation. All levels welcome. Come find your inner peace and leave feeling ready to tackle the day ahead","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-06T09:47:25.040388+00:00","coverUrl":"sqksdkhom5g0uivl5z2l.png","content":{"text":"Ready to make time and take time for YOU in the New Year? This 2-day event on January 16-17 makes it easier than ever to start and keep a self care routine going.\\nAnd, of course, you’re invited!\\n\\nAlmost everyone is guilty of not putting themselves first most of the time. \\nBut did you know that research shows that self care reduces heart disease, stroke, and cancer? Not to mention that people who have a consistent \\nself care routine\\n are 67% more productive, 71% happier, and 64% more self-confident than those who don’t! \\nThe impacts of a yoga for self care routine are nothing but positive. And there is nothing standing in your way of creating one with MyYogaTeacher’s free event. Imagine how much better you’ll feel and how much more productive you’d be if you just took some time for yourself everyday. Your routine doesn’t have to be time consuming. Even 30 minutes of yoga for self care may make all the difference in your life! \\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we understand creating a self care routine may seem unobtainable at first. That’s why we created this event!\n\\nHow to join the Yoga for Everyday Self Care Event:\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\n\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know! We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nMake this event the start of something wonderful for your mental, emotional, and physical health! So you, too, can be happier, more self-confident, and more productive!\n\\nWe've put together a schedule of yoga sessions designed specifically to get you started on your self care journey.\\n\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and exciting event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\n\\n\\nYoga Breathwork: Relaxation and Self Care with Archana\\n\\nTuesday, January 17 at 5:30 pm PST/ 8:30 pm EST\\n\n\\nDo you make time for selfcare? Meditation and yogic breathing are excellent forms of selfcare that you can do almost anywhere or any time! Join us for this relaxing class focused on breathing, meditation, and gentle stretching. Discover how easy it is to take time for you!\\n\n\\n\\nYoga for Self Care: An Everyday Practice with Archana\\n\\nMonday, January 16 at 5:30 pm PST/ 8:30 pm EST\\n\n\\nDo you struggle to make time for self-care? You’re not alone! This beautiful yoga session is designed to help you learn asanas and stretches that you can do every day specifically as a self-care practice. Join us for self-care through yoga!\\n\n\\nWe offer these events so you have the tools and guidance to live in harmony with your inner self, outer self, and the world. So you can move in the world with peace and good health. And so you can be less stressed, more productive, and more \\npresent\\n.\\n\\nExperience the peace that comes from yoga and explore all the tools our expert yoga instructors offer to help you start and maintain a consistent self care routine. We’re here to support you on your journey now \\nand\\n when the event is over!\n\\nSo join us for this free event! And don’t forget to check other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Many are perfect for continuing your self care routine long after this event is over. Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n- Ankit Bhatnagari\\n- Abhishek Bodhi\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Yoga for Everyday Self Care Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":["yoga"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"ckfqxn9ao013k0136vj4w0am0","slug":"teaching-as-a-learning-experience","author":{"name":"Pranjal","teacherMytSlug":"pranjal-1","pictureUrl":"pranjal-1.jpg"},"title":"Teaching as a Learning Experience","createdAt":"2019-04-17T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"pranjal-1.jpg","content":{"text":"Recently, one of my friends asked me “You \\npractice yoga\\n, how has it changed your life?” However, how could I know what changed when I can’t remember a time when I didn’t practice yoga? \\n\\nI was very hyperactive as a child so my parents encouraged me to play sports and other physical activities. It was my grandmother who got me to start practicing yoga. \\n\\nMy grandmother was my first guru. \\n\\nSince then I have fallen in love with practicing yoga. It makes my body feel alive and my mind refreshed. If some days I am not able to practice, it makes me restless. So, this is where my yoga journey started, almost 20 years ago, under the gentle and encouraging guidance of my grandmother. \\n\\nI loved yoga and playing all sorts of sports. So, in school I was always participating in competitions. My love for yoga kept increasing. When the time came to decide what I was going to do after I graduated high school, I had only one thing in mind: I wanted to be a yoga teacher. But back then, yoga was not booming as it is now. My parents encouraged me to look at other interests which could help me earn. I was (and still am) interested in wildlife so I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biodiversity. I continued practicing yoga and I thought I could teach it as a hobby - if not take it up as a career. \\n\\nDuring the summer break, I attended a fitness instructor course which got me a part time job at a gym. During my final year of my Bachelor's, one of my clients at the gym asked if I practiced yoga as she thought I was very good at teaching her different stretches. She then asked me if I could start yoga classes at the gym. \\n\\nI was overwhelmed. \\n\\nI had never thought that I would get to live my dream of becoming a yoga teacher! I was extremely nervous and scared as I had never talked in front of so many people! Let alone teach them anything! Also, I was only 20 years old and all my students were above 40 years of age - which was intimidating. What if no one listened to me? What if no one liked how I was teaching? What if someone was injured because I gave the wrong instructions? These were the questions running through my mind. \\n\\nMy parents, the gym manager, and the clients each encouraged me to at least give it a try. So, I decided to teach a trial class. Only 5 people enrolled that day but even that was too much for me! On the day of the class, I was up early reading up about each asana and the sequence I had chosen. When I started teaching, even though I was nervous the entire time, I was surprisingly confident. I found out that I was learning quite a lot in the process of teaching! The people who came for the class were kind and encouraged me to keep teaching, saying they would attend my classes every week. \\n\\nAt first, teaching was terrifying.\\n\\nI painstakingly planned out entire classes, posture by posture. I practiced explaining how to get in and out of poses. I searched for hours on end until I came up with a theme or focus for my classes that I truly felt inspired by. I researched answers to potential questions from students. It was time consuming but the effort was rewarding. It never felt like work. Teaching yoga gave me a sense of satisfaction and happiness that I had never experienced before. To advance my knowledge in yoga and to get a formal certificate as a yoga teacher, I completed a Yoga Instructor Course from SVYASA University, Bangalore. This opened so many opportunities for me. \\n\\nI started conducting classes at the yoga center at a very reputable hospital in Pune. Here, I conducted sessions for doctors and hospital staff. Many of my students were doctors and knew much more about the human body than I did. They gave me feedback to improve my anatomical cues for my classes. \\n\\nI went back to my yoga school to teach yoga to kids. Teaching yoga and other sports to kids was a very rewarding experience. This made me realize the importance of yoga for improving overall health and sports performance. \\n\\nI got the opportunity to teach yoga and fitness to table tennis players who take part in competitions at state and national levels. My training has helped them improve their strength, flexibility and their game. \\n\\nI conducted two sessions on yoga for Workplace Stress Management at the Amazon office in Pune. Here I taught corporate employees how to manage and relieve stress with easy asanas, breathing and meditation which could be done at their desks. I taught two \\nonline yoga \\nsessions at the College of Charleston, USA as a part of the curriculum for Indian Culture. \\n\\nI now have 7 years of yoga teaching experience. \\n\\nI have experienced the benefits of yoga and I want to pass that on to as many people as I can. My classes have been a wonderful learning experience for me as a teacher and as an individual. They helped me to overcome my fear of public speaking, improve my communication skills and develop networking skills. I think these are essential for people in all walks of life. \\n\\nJust as my personal practice gave me the confidence to be who I am, teaching made me realize that confidence is very different from the confidence you need when teaching others. My experience has helped me gain that confidence over the years and I have reached a point where I can confidently teach a class of at least 30 students comfortably. I always want to keep learning and during my Master’s I found out that I like doing research. I have decided to pursue a degree in Exercise and Fitness research. I want to get into research about yoga so that what I teach will have scientific backing and not just ancient wisdom. \\n\\nYoga has opened up so many opportunities for me and I hope to keep on growing and learning. You too can take a similar journey and find out how yoga can change your life. By taking an online class at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n with a certified instructor, you can \\nstart your personal practice in your very own space\\n and experience all the wonderful benefits of yoga. "}},{"id":"ckv5agr3s1rq40a90vykgwe1a","slug":"meditation-effects-on-brain","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"5 Proven Ways Meditation Positively Affects Brain Behavior","createdAt":"2021-10-24T13:50:43.10345+00:00","coverUrl":"im2iwdslj01ob1qu5w4r.jpg","content":{"text":"Meditation and brain studies have been around, and increasing, for a number of years now. And new studies are consistently revealing more and more incredible information about how meditation positively affects the human brain!\\nBut what precisely are the benefits of meditation on our brain?\\nWe already know meditation lowers cortisol levels, reduces or eliminates anxiety and depression, lowers blood pressure, and even regulates insulin levels in the body.\\nIt’s pretty amazing that something as ancient and simple as meditation can create such a positive impact on people, an impact that has a ripple effect.\\nHowever, scientific research actually reveals that meditation literally changes the composition of the brain and how the brain behaves.\\nMyYogaTeacher offers multiple meditation-only classes on our platform! All taught by extremely experienced, expert yoga instructors. If you aren’t reaping the rewards of meditation or don’t know where to start, \\nget your free 2-week trial of MyYogaTeacher here\\n and check out any or all of the group classes offered!\\nNow, on to the ways meditation positively affects brain behavior.\\n\\n1. Meditation changes the brain structure\\nBefore we dive into this topic, let’s go over the names of the parts of the brain that will be mentioned. No one likes having to look up big words!\\nDon’t worry. There are only four areas we’ll talk about here!\\nGray matter\\n - Controls muscle movement, sensory perception (including emotions, hearing, speech, memory, seeing, and decision making).\\nAmygdala \\n- In charge of emotional responses.\\nPrefrontal cortex\\n - Responsible for decision making.\\nHippocampus\\n - Controls memory and learning.\n\\nAccording to a study reported by the \\nNational Institute of Health\\n (NIH), regularly participating in a specific type of meditation called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) increases the brain’s gray matter in the hippocampus.\\nNot only that, but that same study also showed that the part of the amygdala involved in stress, fear, anxiety, and depression \\ndecreased in size\\n.\\nThe actual \\nphysical\\n structure of the brain changed because of meditation.\\nMind-blowing, right?! (hehe)\\nThis means meditation restructures the brain so that you feel less stressed, anxious and depressed and have better memory and learning capabilities.\\nImagine how this would affect a child’s growing brain! And since I mentioned it…\\nThe effects of meditation on the brain is perhaps even more promising when it comes to children. And children in schools. Studies show that even short bursts of meditation through a child’s school day reduces discipline problems, increases their focus, memory, and improves executive functioning.\\n2. Mindfulness meditation reduces brain aging\\nWhile certain types of stress responses are beneficial to our survival (even in the modern world), some are not.\\nThose stress responses that are triggered by our misguided perceptions of a situation or event promote brain cell death. Stress kills. True story. \\nWhen we have emotions that stem from something reasonable, we react in a meaningful way. This does not contribute to excessive aging the way emotions stemming from false beliefs or fear-based worries do.\\nThe good news?\\nStudies show that mindfulness meditation increases thought awareness, improves control of those thoughts, and reduces cognitive stress. That’s the stress that leads to brain cell death, not the kind that saves your life.\\nCreating more positive states of mind and decreasing the negative ones slows down the rate of cell aging.\\n3. Meditation improves symptoms of depression and anxiety.\\nMeditation is by no means a cure all for \\nany\\n type of mental health condition, much less anxiety or depression. But it’s an excellent tool for managing the symptoms and, in some cases, does eliminate them altogether.\\nMost importantly, meditation changes your response to negative thoughts and, when practiced regularly, can even help you manage them in a healthy way.\\nHow?\\nIt teaches you to be aware of your thoughts without judging them or making assumptions about them.\\nThis is not to say you’ll never have depressing, anxious, or generally negative thoughts. But meditating regularly will give you the tools you need to manage them appropriately and behave in healthier, more positive ways.\\n4. Meditation helps with addiction.\\nAccording to the \\nNIH\\n, decades of research have shown that mindfulness based meditation helps stop addiction and even prevents relapse.\\nThe important thing to remember is that for addiction, consistency in a meditation practice is the key to success. However, it’s also an important practice to start or continue in the event of a relapse.\\nBecause many people who suffer from addiction have little awareness of the negative consequences of their behaviors on their body, relationships, family, and life, meditation plays an important role in helping them gain awareness and gives them tools to change their behaviors.\\nAnother thing to note is since regular mindfulness meditation changes the structure of the brain, the positive side effects are two fold.\\nSince breaking an addiction is obviously stressful, meditation also helps alleviate that stress response during withdrawals. There is also growing evidence that MBSR training cultivates a practice called “savoring.” This is where focused attention is created around natural rewards. In studies involving this idea, participants had reduced cravings and were less likely to take part in substance abuse behaviors. This “savoring” practice helps people pay more attention to pleasant daily activities and focus on the positive emotional responses they have towards those experiences.\\nSo exciting to think about the idea that mindfulness meditation could actually be saving lives!\\n5. Meditation reduces default mode network activity\\nWhat is default mode network activity (DMN)? The DMN is the network within the brain that’s operating when we’re not really thinking about anything at all.\\nIt’s the mind-wandering part of your brain.\\nStudies show that mind-wandering and “background thoughts” lead to worry, stress, anxiety, and general unhappiness. This network is most active when we’re left to our own thoughts or don’t actively have something we’re thinking about (i.e. when we’re performing a task).\\nA common misconception about meditation is that you’re doing nothing when is really quite the opposite.\\nMeditation is active. Just not in the way most people think.\\nMeditation involves drawing your attention to and concentrating on your immediate experience. It requires you to learn how to be present in each moment. This practice does not generally come naturally (or easily) to humans! \\nSo meditation, then, requires us to \\nthink\\n. Which, in turn, helps reduce the “background noise” of the brain that is not only mostly unproductive, but also can lead us into states of worry, anxiety, and depression.\\n6. (Bonus!) Meditation has a stacked effect on the brain.\\nWhile there is tons of scientific evidence showing that various forms of meditation positively impact the brain, the short and sweet of it is…\\nA consistent meditation practice makes our lives better.\\nHere’s a quick list of just some of the benefits of meditation:\\nImproves concentration and memory\\nReduced blood pressure\\nHelps control pain\\nImproves sleep\\nReduces age-related memory loss\\nHelps fight addictions\\nHelps control food cravings\\nReduces emotional and binge eating\\nIncreases attention span\\nHelps you become more self-aware\\nControls anxiety\\nReduces stress\\nAs with many types of medication or therapy, meditation doesn’t just help with one or the other (or maybe a few) of these things listed above. A consistent meditation practice benefits you – and your brain – in \\nall\\n the ways!\\nCan you tell we’re pretty passionate here at MYT about your health and wellness? We truly do care about your mental, emotional, \\nand\\n physical health. That’s why we are excited to have such an amazing group of experienced, expert yoga instructors with varying backgrounds and who have extensive education in their field on board the MyYogaTeacher platform!\\nMyYogaTeacher hosts a variety of 35+ group classes, offers 1:1 classes, and members get discounted pricing on all of our phenomenal workshops! If you haven’t tried us out, we want to make it easy for you to do so by offering \\na 2-week free trial that you can get right here!\\n No credit card required!\\nWe hope to see you on the mat!\\n"}},{"id":"ckfqz2i7c01zh0126lgqr62ga","slug":"try-it-humming-bee-breath-bhramari-pranamaya","author":{"name":"Jitendra","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png"},"title":"Try it! Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari Pranamaya)","createdAt":"2020-01-10T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"matthew-t-rader-ohygdzgWbr4-unsplash.jpg","content":{"text":"Think of how your mind feels when you've got too much going on . . . you're trying to manage too many things . . .you're stressed or you're tired. Now, imagine that feeling has a sound. Maybe, for you, it would have a low-grade or a high-pitched hum - like a car in overdrive. Do you know what I mean? \\n\\nWhen our thoughts are bustling and just moving non-stop, they create chatter in the mind. These thoughts can drain us even more or put us into freeze mode. \\n\\nA great rule of thumb is to match like-with-like. And that is how this breathing technique works. You make a low-grade humming sound during your exhale. Not only does this sound create a vibration in your jaw and temples (which is soothing!), it also creates a steady backdrop for your mind. Your mind can relax and calm down with this sound and vibration. \\n\\nBut enough reading - this is definitely one of those techniques you just have to try to really understand it. \\n\\n\\n\\nBhramari Pranamaya\\n\\n\\nFind the right hum that makes you feel better. Traditionally, this technique calls for a loud hum, but feel free to find the right sound and frequency for you. \\n\\nFind a comfortable seat. Take a moment to feel your bones settle and your joints relax. \\nBring a little straightness into the spine but keep the shoulders relaxed. \\nYou may close your eyes, or soften your gaze. \\nDraw your breath in your nose and exhale out of your mouth once or twice.\\nTake a deep inhale. Keeping the mouth closed, exhale smoothly through the nose while making a humming sound, like a bee, in the back of your throat. \\nRepeat this at least 5 times. \\n\\nThen, most importantly, check in with your body and mind directly afterwards. Take about a minute noticing if the mind feels different, the nose or the throat. Even check in with your shoulders and ears. \\n\\nTo amplify the vibrations and the internal experience, you may close your ear by placing your index finger on the cartilage flap and pressing it against the opening of your ear. \\n\\nAdditional Benefits of Humming Bee Breath\\n\\nAs with most things Yoga, the benefits of this \\npranamaya\\n are far-reaching. Here are just a few: \\n\\nHelps migraines\\nRelaxes the mind and body for sleep\\nReduces tension in the jaw\\nLowers blood pressure\\nCreates grounding in the mind\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"claqtt90v1oog0bimezcei2yq","slug":"yoga-with-your-partner","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Practicing Yoga with your Partner : 14 Yoga Poses Practice To Deepen Your Connection","createdAt":"2022-11-21T13:31:03.531635+00:00","coverUrl":"arv0lxzhmqel1ad4vmxv.jpg","content":{"text":"Are you looking to deepen your connection with your partner? Feeling detached? Yoga is a great way to reconnect with yourself and your relationship. If you’ve never practiced yoga with your partner, there's no time like now to get started! And Myyogateacher is the perfect place! You can practice with your partner at home, in your safe and secure place. \\nBegin your journey with us today! \\n\\n\n\\nWhy Should Couples Practice Yoga Together?\\nAccording to a \\n2016 study\\n, a mindfulness practice with your partner can result in a higher quality relationship. Being present in the experience with your partner is key. Yoga can be your form of “couples therapy” and here's why! \\n1. Promotes Happiness\\nWe know your partner already gives you butterflies but on days you're feeling down, connecting together with your movement and breath can boost endorphins. \\n2. Improves your Communication\\nWhen you start to practice yoga together, you and your partner learn to take non-verbal cues as you move. This practice off the mat, will improve communication by learning to read each other's body language and facial expressions. \\n3. Improved Sex\\nYoga teaches us how to move with our partner's body and breath. This will enhance your sex life because our bodies will better understand how to respond to one another physically. \\n4. Reduces Stress, Anxiety and Anger\\nPracticing yoga or physical activities together can help us understand what upsets our partner which will make us more understanding of their triggers and emotional responses. It can also help us learn how to help our partner cope with stress through breathwork. \n\\n\\nWhat are the Benefits of Couples Yoga?\\nWhen you start to practice yoga together with your partner, the effects are long lasting. Here are some of the benefits of joining bodies on the mat. \\nInitiates physical and emotional support. Yoga forces you and your partner to physically lean on one another for support. Like the grown up version of a “trust fall”. \\nCreates shared memories & experiences! There’s nothing more memorable than learning a new skill or trying something scary with the one you love. \\nStrength and stability. If you’re ready to take the plunge into building a practice together, you will emotionally grow together in stability and strength while also using your physical strength to hold each other up. How cosmic and beautiful!\\nAnd of course, MORE LOVE! What could be better than building a deeper connection with your partner? \n\n\\nWhat is Tantric Yoga?\\nTantric yoga is designed to help you build and strengthen your relationship with your partner through connected bodies and energies. When most people hear “tantric” they assume it’s always about sex but the practice is about fostering the relationship between two partners. If you’d like to build a tantric practice into your partner yoga experience, you can end your session with a “Tantric yoga meditation.”\\nWant to give it a try? Here’s a set of beginner steps to start your tantric connection. \\nFocus on your breathing.\\nSlow down. Start to deepen your inhales and exhales together. \\nMake eye contact. Look into your partner's eyes and focus. \\nStart engaging your senses. (hear, feel, taste, smell, see) \\nSee where you end up! \n\\n\\nHow does Yoga Together Promote Intimacy?\\nHave you ever told your partner you’re “not on the same page” as them? When you start doing yoga together, you’ll never say that again. When we practice yoga, we become present in our bodies. We connect our movement to our breath and no matter what’s going on around us, we can breathe and stay focused. When we do yoga with a partner, we fall into sync together. We become one. Your breath, movement and bodies will start to naturally fall into the same rhythm together. This rhythm will create a closeness that will promote more intimacy in everything you do with your partner. The “yoga” you do together off the mat will be more rewarding and fulfilling because you choose to connect with your practice. \n\\n\\nReady to deepen your connection with Yoga? \\nYou can practice with us at \\nmyyogateacher\\n from the comfort of your own home. Try a two week free trial on us! Our classes are live with authentic, expert Indian yoga instructors to guide you through your practice. Looking for a more private experience? Try our 1-on-1 classes where the practice is built just for you and your partner! To start, build your practice at home with your partner using these beginner poses. \n\\n\n\\n14 Yoga Poses to Try With Your Partner\\nThese yoga poses for 2 will help you move together while building intimacy, trust and security:\\n\\n1. Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)\\nDo this pose facing each other. Put your hands on your partner’s knees.\\n\\n2. Chair Pose (Utkatasana)\\nDo this pose back to back. Hold each other up as gravity pulls you down. \\n\\n3. Seated Forward Bend Pose (Paschimottanasana)\\nBring your feet to your partner’s and reach forward to join hands. Pull each other into the stretch. \\n\\n4. Revolved Chair Pose (Parivrtta Utkatasana)\\nHold opposite hands and twist the outside arm open. Switch sides. \\n\\n5. Down Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana) \\nEasy: Come to child's pose and have your partner put their hands on your lower back in downdog. \\nHarder: Bring your feet to your partner’s lower back and come up into an L shape. \\n\\n6. Child's Pose (Bālāsana)\\nStack your child’s pose over your partner’s. \\n\\n7. Tree Pose ( Vrikshasana)\\nStand side by side and join hands. Use your strength to hold each other up.\\n\\n8. Standing Forward Fold Pose ( Uttanasana)\\nHinge at the hips and reach for your partner's arms around both your legs or hold hands in your bend. \\n\\n9. Camel Pose (Ustrasana) \\nInstead of reaching back, let your heart open but hold your partner's outer arms. Let your hearts face each other. \\n\\n10. Boat Pose (Navasana)\\nFace one another and connect your feet with your knees bent. Lift your legs straight if you can. When you’re ready to balance, hold hands. \\n\\n11. Side Angle Bend Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) \\nStand in warrior two opposite your partner. With the arm that's down, grab hands. \\n\\n12. Warrior 3 Pose (Virabhadrasana)\\nWhen hinging at the hips, bring your hands to your partner’s shoulders and lift your back (opposite) leg. \\n\\n13. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)\\nHave one partner stack their feet on the other’s thighs then lift up. You can keep your hands on the ground or hold hands together. \\n\\n14. Savasana Pose\\nCome together to finish your practice!\\nBring one hand to your heart, and one to join your partners. Breathe deeply together and relax.\\n\n\\nIf you’re feeling the love, keep the connection going by making your practice more consistent. Now you have all the tools you need to build a stronger connection with your partner! Join us online and start your at home practice today! \\n"}},{"id":"clabcglv4n3fc0ais6yxjyhtq","slug":"yoga-before-and-after-workout","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga Before and After Workout: When is yoga best for you and your body?","createdAt":"2022-11-10T17:28:47.493944+00:00","coverUrl":"dirnebto7s5zxueovsfw.jpg","content":{"text":"Yoga has so many benefits for the body on its own. But if you’re trying to kick your routine into high gear, consider adding yoga onto your other workouts for an extra bang for your buck. If you’re new to yoga and wondering how adding it into your workout routine can benefit you, no worries! We’re here to help! We'll help you figure out where to schedule yoga into your routine.\\n\\nBenefits of Adding Yoga to your Workout:\\n\\n1. Flexibility\\nIf flexibility is one of your fitness goals, yoga is a great way to achieve more physical flexibility. It’s also great to take the place of your stretching routine pre or post workout. Yoga can increase range of motion and help in muscle recovery. \\n\\n2. Conditioning\\nLove HIIT? Yoga is a great way to step up your fitness intensity by helping you condition your body with more stamina and longer breathing patterns for increased cardio abilities. It’s also proven to increase coordination. \n\\n3. Strength\\nLove to go to the gym for cardio but hate to hit the weight rack? No worries, yoga can take the place of strength training by just using your body weight. Through repetition yoga builds muscle and endurance for strength. No weights required!\\n\\n4. Mental Clarity\\nFor most people, working out is a great way to increase endorphins and reduce stress. However, if your workout leaves you too tightly wound or doesn’t do the job of lifting your mental load, a slow flow can help bring you down and help you rebalance. \n\n\\nWhy You Should do Yoga Before Workout? (Pre Workout) \\nIf you’re strength training, or going for an easy walk on your rest day, yoga is great for before your workout. Do you like to get up with the sun and start your day with a workout? Well, starting your day with yoga will bring you clarity and get your body ready to move. \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n is a great place to start your practice and your day. Even if it's gross outside you can still get your practice in. You can pull up our app on your phone or our website right on your computer for 24/7 access to live classes with expert Indian instructors.\\n\\nYou can also use yoga as your warm up! If you’re just waking up or it’s a cold weather season, yoga will help you keep your muscles strong and flexible. If you’re going to the gym for targeted strength training, it can help you focus on balance and alignment to keep your body in check through your workout. Yoga will help you stay balanced and avoid injury by increasing mobility in the body. And finally, Yoga puts your mental health in check. Adding in a moving meditation or some breath work before your workout will keep your body calm, help you align with your goals and avoid the flight or fight symptoms that can come on during an intense or tough workout. \n\\n\\n5 Yoga Poses to Practice Before Your Workout:\n\\n1. Child's Pose\\nThis pose will help you open your hips and reduce injury on core or leg days.\\n\\n\\n2. Cat Cow Pose\\nMoving through your spine slowly with these stretches will help increase mobility in the back. \\n\\n\\n3. Downward Dog Pose\\nPushing up into a downdog to start your day will stretch your entire lower body from your toes to your hips.\\n\\n\\n4. Forward Fold Pose\\nFolding forward increases the blood flow in the body and helps us maintain spine and core stability. \\n\\n\\n5. Mountain Pose\\nThis pose helps us to establish alignment and increase body awareness before a workout! \\n\\n\\n\\nYoga Classes to Try Before your Workout \\n\\nRise and shine 30 min flow\\n : Start your day with this quick flow. This class is meant to increase your physical fitness and help build your stamina so you can workout longer!\\n\\nHatha Vinyasa\\n : Gain mental clarity at the beginning of your workout with this traditional hatha flow. \\n\\nSlow Flow Vinyasa\\n : Start your day slow and steady for your mind and body. The slow pace of this class allows us to connect with our bodies and minds as we focus on our breath and alignment. This class helps to build strength, improve flexibility and stability. \n\\nWhy you should do yoga post workout ?\\nIf your workout is more high energy like kickboxing, zumba, cycling etc, yoga after may be best for bringing your body back to homeostasis. Yoga naturally brings down heart rate and reduces stress on the body and mind . You can use Yoga as a cool down or stretching portion of your workout to bring muscles into recovery while extending your burn a little longer. Are you a nighttime warrior? If you tend to work out at night, ending your routine with yoga will help you get a better night’s sleep. \\n\\n5 Yoga Poses to Practice After your Workout:\\n\\n1. Wide Leg Forward Fold Pose\\nWide leg forward fold releases our lower back. Reaching down towards the floor will give our calves a much needed stretch post workout!\\n\\n\\n2. Pigeon Pose\\nThis pose will help to open tight and tired hips and hamstrings. \\n\\n\\n3. Bound Angle Pose\\nThis hip opener stretches your adductors and quadriceps. Try this pose after a run or cardio workout. \\n\\n\\n4. Seated Forward Fold Pose\\nThis pose provides a full body stretch from your head to your heels! \\n\\n\\n5. Happy Baby Pose\\nThis pose helps to alleviate or avoid lower back pain post workout. It can also reduce any stress or anxiety caused by your workout. \\n\\n\\nYoga Classes to Try After your Workout\\n\\nBreath and Flow\\n : This full body flow will help stretch and rejuvenate your muscles as well as relax your mind with meditation and pranayama techniques. \\n\\nYoga Fusion for Joints\\n : This conditioning class combines light weights and foam roller stretches for an active recovery post workout. \\n\\nBreath and Meditation\\n : Join this class to slow down the body and refocus your breathing. Ideal for end of the day or transitions. \\n\\nNo matter what time of day you choose to workout, adding yoga 2 to 3 times a week will extend the life of your routine and help you maintain a positive outlook on your fitness goals. You can add yoga to your workout anytime with us here at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n by creating an account, logging in and joining us for class! "}},{"id":"cl31z7b95pf2h0ck3sna7w2xg","slug":"yoga-for-women-over-50","author":{"name":"Vineeta","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"5 Yoga Poses for Older Women: Yoga for Women Over 50","createdAt":"2022-05-11T19:29:46.900088+00:00","coverUrl":"shfqitaozmzufddc6ift.jpg","content":{"text":"Yoga is for every body. And that’s just one of the wonderful things about it! Another wonderful thing is there are\\n specific\\n yoga poses for women, men, children, disabled people, seniors. \\nA yoga practice can be tailored to meet the varying and specific individual needs of a person or of a collective group of people. Here, I’ll be addressing the physical, mental, and emotional needs of women over the age of 50 with yoga poses that are particularly beneficial to them.\\nHi! My name is Vaneeta! I teach a\\n Yoga for Women\\n group class at MyYogaTeacher. Women are the source of life and energy on the planet. And a woman advances through many phases of life from motherhood to \\nmenopause\\n. Women who are entering the stage of life that is after menopause have specific needs that can be addressed with yoga!\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\n\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n!\\nI hope you’ll try some of these yoga poses for women over 50 and then join my class on MyYogaTeacher for more!\\nOne key to doing yoga at an older age is using props that help you remain stable, safe, and aligned. I recommend using blocks and/or a chair along with your mat.\\n\\n\\n\\n1. Cat and Cow Pose\\nCat and Cow pose is great for anyone at any age, but it’s a great way for women to begin warming up their back and abdominal muscles in a way that is gradual and stable. Supporting your weight on all fours is also a great way to keep arm and chest muscles (that maybe don’t get used as much as we age) strong and conditioned. Women over 50 tend to start experiencing stiffness and reduced mobility in their backs, so cat and cow pose is perfect for helping with those issues as well!\\nAdditionally, because cat and cow pose is designed to sync with your breath, it is a great way to cleanse emotionally. Since changes in your body can cause emotional distress, particularly in older women, this yoga pose helps women release those emotions before moving forward with more challenging poses.\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Downward Facing Dog\\nOtherwise known as “Down Dog,” this yoga pose is great for older women because it:\\nStretches out the calves, hamstrings, and back \\nBuilds strength in the arms and chest \\nIncreases flexibility in the shoulders\\nBoosts circulation of oxygen and nutrients to otherwise contracting muscles\\nShoulder joints tend to wear out as women age, which makes them susceptible to injuring their shoulders. Building strength in the arms and chest helps protect those increasingly fragile shoulder joints. \\nEmotionally, down dog instills a sense of empowerment and increases feelings of confidence and accomplishment, two things women over 50 tend to struggle with when they notice the changes in their bodies.\\nAdditionally, once a women passes through menopause, muscles tend to tighten and contract due to reduction in hormones and hormone production. Downward facing dog is a perfect yoga pose for women over 50 because it keeps their leg and back muscles lengthened and promotes good circulation!\\n\\n\n3. Modified Cobbler’s Pose\\nAs women age, it is common for them to encounter knee problems and knee pain, making some yoga poses difficult. However, many yoga poses that increase flexibility and circulation to the hip flexors and hip joints require bent knees. \\nPerforming cobbler’s pose on a block or bolster where your hips are higher than your knees helps decrease the pressure on your knees while still reaping the gentle benefits of hip stretching. You may also choose to put blocks underneath your knees or move your feet further away from your body so that the angle of bend in your knees isn’t as sharp.\\nEither way, this pose is proof that yoga for women over 50 is doable, even if you’re experiencing physical challenges and physiological changes.\\n\\n\n4. Modified Tree Pose\\nBalancing postures are a common theme in many forms of yoga. They help yogis learn how to focus better, increase concentration, and (importantly for older women) strengthen the tiny muscles in our feet and ankles.\\nOlder women may begin to experience balance issues as they age. This is common and normal!\\nThe more you work to strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles, the less likely you will be to lose your balance! Additionally, yoga for women helps you navigate the mental changes you may experience by helping with memory, focus, and concentration.\\nUse a chair, wall, or other stable object if needed. You may also place your non-standing foot on your calf or even at your ankle until you are comfortable moving it further up.\\n\\n\\n5. Child’s Pose\\nEveryone loves child’s pose! It’s a great stretch for your back, arms, neck, and even hips and glutes. Older women may want to rest their forehead on a block and/or place a blanket underneath their hips to alleviate any discomfort.\\nTaking some much needed time in child’s pose allows women to reflect on how their body feels and release any negative thoughts about the changes that may be occurring in their body as they age.\\nI would love to have you join us in the Yoga for \\nSenior\\n class, where I not only teach a yoga class specifically catered to women’s needs but talk about common issues women face as they transition into and out of different phases of life! also Check out our latest \\nWellness\\n class for seniors!\\nMyYogaTeacher offers 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\nNamaste!"}}],"blogContent":{"id":"ckqcetz68tefr0a76fc42yga7","slug":"yoga-for-core","author":{"name":"Namrata","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts","createdAt":"2021-06-25T14:08:50.296931+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-04-25T11:39:53.847826+00:00","coverUrl":"kzbzykw7qptix3xwfo7h.jpg","seoDescription":"Yoga for your core? We say yes! Yoga is an excellent way to build a stronger core, which helps with all other aspects of your practice!","content":{"text":"Have you ever heard someone say that? \\n\\n“Use your core!”\\n\\nMaybe it was a trainer, a dance teacher, or perhaps a yoga instructor! That’s because (as I’m sure you already know) your core muscles are imperative to protecting many other parts of your body!\\n\\nWe wouldn’t be preaching (aka screaming) it so much if it wasn’t important.\\n\\nThere are many types of core workouts and exercises specifically for your abdominal muscles. And I’m not saying they’re ineffective. They are, when done correctly.\\n\\nPart of the problem is that people don’t do the exercises correctly.\\n\\nThe other part of the problem I’ll discuss below.\\n\\nOr, if you wanna check out my \\nYoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening\\n on myYogaTeacher, you’ll see the differences for yourself! We’d love to have you!\\n\\nNot a myYogaTeacher member yet? Really?! You’ve got to check it out. \\nGet your 2-week free trial here and experience my class and over 35 others.\\n There’s a yoga class for everyone. Literally!\\n\\nIn the meantime, let’s dive into how yoga for your core is different – and more beneficial – than traditional core exercises.\\n\\nYoga for your core is more efficient\\n\\nWhy would you spend all your time conditioning individual muscle groups when you could be working multiple muscle groups all at once?\\n\\nYoga is a dynamic practice. Meaning you’ll be working your core while doing everything from something simple like tree pose to something more complicated like plough pose.\\n\\nAnd everything in between. There is almost never a time during a yoga session when you’re not using your core.\\n\\nExcept in savasana, of course. Where you absolutely deserve to not use your core!\\n\\nAnd speaking of dynamics…\\n\\nYoga for your core is much more dynamic\\n\\nSo not only are you using your core in almost every single yoga pose, in ever single yoga session, you are using those muscles differently than you would with traditional ab exercises.\\n\\nFor example, in boat pose, you’re working your upper and lower abdominal muscles, even your obliques. You’re also working your thighs, glutes, and your arms! All in one move.\\n\\nThere are lots of yoga poses specifically for your core muscles. \\n\\nPlank, for instance. Plank is a part of a regular yoga practice or flow. You’ll work your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, thighs and every single ab muscle you’ve got.\\n\\nTrust me. You’ll feel it!\\n\\nAny core yoga pose will work more than just one muscle group, unlike traditional ab exercises.\\n\\nYoga for your core is safer\\n\\nDo you know how easy it is to injure yourself doing traditional ab exercises?\\n\\nIt is. Mostly because people do the exercises incorrectly. Which is easy to do when you’re tired or straining one group or set of muscles.\\n\\nCrunches, for instance. A seemingly simple exercise.\\n\\nWhen you’re tired or your core is tired, you will have a tendency to pull on the back of your neck or lead with your head instead of your abs. This puts a ton of strain on your neck and spine and can cause injury.\\n\\nUsing various different ab machines can put strain on other muscles and not even help you strengthen your abdominal muscles at all.\\n\\nThere are plenty of other examples I could give, but suffice it to say that yoga is just safer. One, you’re using your core even when the asana isn’t focused on your core. Two, yoga is all about body awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self.\\n\\nWhich means if you’re straining in areas where you shouldn’t be, you’ll realize it fairly quickly and know how to correct it.\\n\\nYoga for your core provides variety\\n\\nYou know traditional core workouts are boring. I’ll admit it for you so you don’t have to.\\n\\nDoes anyone actually like doing ab workouts? No, probably not.\\n\\nThat’s because they are the exact same “tried and true” exercises that have been taught and preached to us for years and years and years.\\n\\nBut guess what? Yoga is older than those exercises! (You probably knew that already)\\n\\nThere are hundreds – possibly thousands – of different yoga flows. There are over 20 different types of yoga. Combined with the many different yoga poses, this means that the possibilities of core workouts are almost endless!\\n\\nYou could probably do something different every single day for the rest of your life!\\n\\nCan you say that about traditional ab workouts? No. Because it’s the same exercises just in different sequences. There’s usually only one way to do them too. Which is very limiting.\\n\\nYoga flattens your belly\\n\\nIsn’t that what we all want?\\n\\nFlatter, stronger abdominal muscles?\\n\\nA strong core protects our back, our entire skeletal system. Having a flat tummy helps prevent things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and even asthma!\\n\\nSomething you don’t get with traditional abdominal exercises is cardio.\\n\\nNot all yoga provides cardio, of course, But there are many types that do. As a matter of fact, some types of yoga burn more calories per hour than many conventional exercises like running, the elliptical, or swimming.\\n\\nThe point is, yoga is a safe, healthy all in one form of exercise with benefits that far exceed a strong core and loss of belly fat! \\n\\n\\nWant to see for yourself? Take my \\nYoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening \\nclass for a test run! Let me know you read this blog post and I’ll be sure to talk about it in class. If you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you definitely should. \\nHere’s the link again to get your 2-week free trial.\\n You’ll have access to all the classes that MYT has to offer and can even chat with the instructors, all of which are expert yoga teachers!\\n\\n","html":"<p>Have you ever heard someone say that? </p><p></p><p>“Use your core!”</p><p></p><p>Maybe it was a trainer, a dance teacher, or perhaps a yoga instructor! That’s because (as I’m sure you already know) your core muscles are imperative to protecting many other parts of your body!</p><p></p><p>We wouldn’t be preaching (aka screaming) it so much if it wasn’t important.</p><p></p><p>There are many types of core workouts and exercises specifically for your abdominal muscles. And I’m not saying they’re ineffective. They are, when done correctly.</p><p></p><p>Part of the problem is that people don’t do the exercises correctly.</p><p></p><p>The other part of the problem I’ll discuss below.</p><p></p><p>Or, if you wanna check out my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\">Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening</a> on myYogaTeacher, you’ll see the differences for yourself! We’d love to have you!</p><p></p><p>Not a myYogaTeacher member yet? Really?! You’ve got to check it out. <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">Get your 2-week free trial here and experience my class and over 35 others.</a> There’s a yoga class for everyone. Literally!</p><p></p><p>In the meantime, let’s dive into how yoga for your core is different – and more beneficial – than traditional core exercises.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is more efficient</h2><p></p><p>Why would you spend all your time conditioning individual muscle groups when you could be working multiple muscle groups all at once?</p><p></p><p>Yoga is a dynamic practice. Meaning you’ll be working your core while doing everything from something simple like tree pose to something more complicated like plough pose.</p><p></p><p>And everything in between. There is almost never a time during a yoga session when you’re not using your core.</p><p></p><p>Except in savasana, of course. Where you absolutely deserve to not use your core!</p><p></p><p>And speaking of dynamics…</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is much more dynamic</h2><p></p><p>So not only are you using your core in almost every single yoga pose, in ever single yoga session, you are using those muscles differently than you would with traditional ab exercises.</p><p></p><p>For example, in boat pose, you’re working your upper and lower abdominal muscles, even your obliques. You’re also working your thighs, glutes, and your arms! All in one move.</p><p></p><p>There are lots of yoga poses specifically for your core muscles. </p><p></p><p>Plank, for instance. Plank is a part of a regular yoga practice or flow. You’ll work your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, thighs and every single ab muscle you’ve got.</p><p></p><p>Trust me. You’ll feel it!</p><p></p><p>Any core yoga pose will work more than just one muscle group, unlike traditional ab exercises.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is safer</h2><p></p><p>Do you know how easy it is to injure yourself doing traditional ab exercises?</p><p></p><p>It is. Mostly because people do the exercises incorrectly. Which is easy to do when you’re tired or straining one group or set of muscles.</p><p></p><p>Crunches, for instance. A seemingly simple exercise.</p><p></p><p>When you’re tired or your core is tired, you will have a tendency to pull on the back of your neck or lead with your head instead of your abs. This puts a ton of strain on your neck and spine and can cause injury.</p><p></p><p>Using various different ab machines can put strain on other muscles and not even help you strengthen your abdominal muscles at all.</p><p></p><p>There are plenty of other examples I could give, but suffice it to say that yoga is just safer. One, you’re using your core even when the asana isn’t focused on your core. Two, yoga is all about body awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self.</p><p></p><p>Which means if you’re straining in areas where you shouldn’t be, you’ll realize it fairly quickly and know how to correct it.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core provides variety</h2><p></p><p>You know traditional core workouts are boring. I’ll admit it for you so you don’t have to.</p><p></p><p>Does anyone actually like doing ab workouts? No, probably not.</p><p></p><p>That’s because they are the exact same “tried and true” exercises that have been taught and preached to us for years and years and years.</p><p></p><p>But guess what? Yoga is older than those exercises! (You probably knew that already)</p><p></p><p>There are hundreds – possibly thousands – of different yoga flows. There are over 20 different types of yoga. Combined with the many different yoga poses, this means that the possibilities of core workouts are almost endless!</p><p></p><p>You could probably do something different every single day for the rest of your life!</p><p></p><p>Can you say that about traditional ab workouts? No. Because it’s the same exercises just in different sequences. There’s usually only one way to do them too. Which is very limiting.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga flattens your belly</h2><p></p><p>Isn’t that what we all want?</p><p></p><p>Flatter, stronger abdominal muscles?</p><p></p><p>A strong core protects our back, our entire skeletal system. Having a flat tummy helps prevent things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and even asthma!</p><p></p><p>Something you don’t get with traditional abdominal exercises is cardio.</p><p></p><p>Not all yoga provides cardio, of course, But there are many types that do. As a matter of fact, some types of yoga burn more calories per hour than many conventional exercises like running, the elliptical, or swimming.</p><p></p><p>The point is, yoga is a safe, healthy all in one form of exercise with benefits that far exceed a strong core and loss of belly fat! </p><p></p><p></p><p>Want to see for yourself? Take my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\">Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening </a>class for a test run! Let me know you read this blog post and I’ll be sure to talk about it in class. If you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you definitely should. <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">Here’s the link again to get your 2-week free trial.</a> You’ll have access to all the classes that MYT has to offer and can even chat with the instructors, all of which are expert yoga teachers!</p><p></p><p></p>"},"category":["fitness"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>Have you ever heard someone say that? </p><p></p><p>“Use your core!”</p><p></p><p>Maybe it was a trainer, a dance teacher, or perhaps a yoga instructor! That’s because (as I’m sure you already know) your core muscles are imperative to protecting many other parts of your body!</p><p></p><p>We wouldn’t be preaching (aka screaming) it so much if it wasn’t important.</p><p></p><p>There are many types of core workouts and exercises specifically for your abdominal muscles. And I’m not saying they’re ineffective. They are, when done correctly.</p><p></p><p>Part of the problem is that people don’t do the exercises correctly.</p><p></p><p>The other part of the problem I’ll discuss below.</p><p></p><p>Or, if you wanna check out my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\">Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening</a> on myYogaTeacher, you’ll see the differences for yourself! We’d love to have you!</p><p></p><p>Not a myYogaTeacher member yet? Really?! You’ve got to check it out. <a\n class=\"inline-cta\"\n id=852674e5-a345-4b44-bfb8-661e7ca45f7d\n href=\"/free-trial-o?utm_source=MYT__article&utm_medium=ckqcetz68tefr0a76fc42yga7&utm_campaign=inline_cta&utm_content=CTA-INLINE&entity_name=Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts&entity_slug=yoga-for-core&page_or_popup=/articles/yoga-for-core&entity_location=hyperlink_midst_of_article&article_cta=CTA-INLINE&from_article_page=true\"\n onclick=trigger_mixpanel_sign_up_cta(\"852674e5-a345-4b44-bfb8-661e7ca45f7d\")\n title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" \n data-title=\"Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts\"\n data-slug=\"yoga-for-core\"\n <u>Get your 2-week free trial here and experience my class and over 35 others.</a></u> \n </a> There’s a yoga class for everyone. Literally!</p><p></p><p>In the meantime, let’s dive into how yoga for your core is different – and more beneficial – than traditional core exercises.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is more efficient</h2><p></p><p>Why would you spend all your time conditioning individual muscle groups when you could be working multiple muscle groups all at once?</p><p></p><p>Yoga is a dynamic practice. Meaning you’ll be working your core while doing everything from something simple like tree pose to something more complicated like plough pose.</p><p></p><p>And everything in between. There is almost never a time during a yoga session when you’re not using your core.</p><p></p><p>Except in savasana, of course. Where you absolutely deserve to not use your core!</p><p></p><p>And speaking of dynamics…</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is much more dynamic</h2><p></p><p>So not only are you using your core in almost every single yoga pose, in ever single yoga session, you are using those muscles differently than you would with traditional ab exercises.</p><p></p><p>For example, in boat pose, you’re working your upper and lower abdominal muscles, even your obliques. You’re also working your thighs, glutes, and your arms! All in one move.</p><p></p><p>There are lots of yoga poses specifically for your core muscles. </p><p></p><p>Plank, for instance. Plank is a part of a regular yoga practice or flow. You’ll work your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, thighs and every single ab muscle you’ve got.</p><p></p><p>Trust me. You’ll feel it!</p><p></p><p>Any core yoga pose will work more than just one muscle group, unlike traditional ab exercises.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is safer</h2><p></p><p>Do you know how easy it is to injure yourself doing traditional ab exercises?</p><p></p><p>It is. Mostly because people do the exercises incorrectly. Which is easy to do when you’re tired or straining one group or set of muscles.</p><p></p><p>Crunches, for instance. A seemingly simple exercise.</p><p></p><p>When you’re tired or your core is tired, you will have a tendency to pull on the back of your neck or lead with your head instead of your abs. This puts a ton of strain on your neck and spine and can cause injury.</p><p></p><p>Using various different ab machines can put strain on other muscles and not even help you strengthen your abdominal muscles at all.</p><p></p><p>There are plenty of other examples I could give, but suffice it to say that yoga is just safer. One, you’re using your core even when the asana isn’t focused on your core. Two, yoga is all about body awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self.</p><p></p><p>Which means if you’re straining in areas where you shouldn’t be, you’ll realize it fairly quickly and know how to correct it.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core provides variety</h2><p></p><p>You know traditional core workouts are boring. I’ll admit it for you so you don’t have to.</p><p></p><p>Does anyone actually like doing ab workouts? No, probably not.</p><p></p><p>That’s because they are the exact same “tried and true” exercises that have been taught and preached to us for years and years and years.</p><p></p><p>But guess what? Yoga is older than those exercises! (You probably knew that already)</p><p></p><p>There are hundreds – possibly thousands – of different yoga flows. There are over 20 different types of yoga. Combined with the many different yoga poses, this means that the possibilities of core workouts are almost endless!</p><p></p><p>You could probably do something different every single day for the rest of your life!</p><p></p><p>Can you say that about traditional ab workouts? No. Because it’s the same exercises just in different sequences. There’s usually only one way to do them too. Which is very limiting.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga flattens your belly</h2><p></p><p>Isn’t that what we all want?</p><p></p><p>Flatter, stronger abdominal muscles?</p><p></p><p>A strong core protects our back, our entire skeletal system. Having a flat tummy helps prevent things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and even asthma!</p><p></p><p>Something you don’t get with traditional abdominal exercises is cardio.</p><p></p><p>Not all yoga provides cardio, of course, But there are many types that do. As a matter of fact, some types of yoga burn more calories per hour than many conventional exercises like running, the elliptical, or swimming.</p><p></p><p>The point is, yoga is a safe, healthy all in one form of exercise with benefits that far exceed a strong core and loss of belly fat! </p><p></p><p></p><p>Want to see for yourself? Take my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\">Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening </a>class for a test run! Let me know you read this blog post and I’ll be sure to talk about it in class. If you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you definitely should. <a\n class=\"inline-cta\"\n id=c5696fcc-179f-49eb-938e-c6a1180f2b22\n href=\"/free-trial-o?utm_source=MYT__article&utm_medium=ckqcetz68tefr0a76fc42yga7&utm_campaign=inline_cta&utm_content=CTA-INLINE&entity_name=Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts&entity_slug=yoga-for-core&page_or_popup=/articles/yoga-for-core&entity_location=hyperlink_midst_of_article&article_cta=CTA-INLINE&from_article_page=true\"\n onclick=trigger_mixpanel_sign_up_cta(\"c5696fcc-179f-49eb-938e-c6a1180f2b22\")\n title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" \n data-title=\"Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts\"\n data-slug=\"yoga-for-core\"\n <u>Here’s the link again to get your 2-week free trial.</a></u> \n </a> You’ll have access to all the classes that MYT has to offer and can even chat with the instructors, all of which are expert yoga teachers!</p><p></p><p></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"yoga-for-core","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"free-trial-o","redirectURL":"#","current_url":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/yoga-for-core","student_details":"","facebookUrl":"","twitterUrl":"","copyUrl":"","emailUrl":"","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live & Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice with Authentic Indian Yoga Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz6nq0tqdr0c258titvagg","name":"[CTA-REVIEWS]","description":{"html":"<p>Find out what all the hype is about! <strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Hatha Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live & Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>with Authentic Indian Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cky90p88g3zgc0d23yz6taont","name":"[CTA-NASAL]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>to relieve post nasal drip and clear out your sinus. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic Indian yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live & Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Learn Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyisqh482ck60b79rp1r1jcg","name":"[CTA-YIN]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong>, work with an experienced yoga therapist to reduce (and even eliminate) your back pain. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Yoga for Back Pain’) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Therapy – </strong><u><strong>Live & Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Back Pain Safely & Effectively Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitki4w2liz0b30tqpzhy4i","name":"[CTA-KRIYA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation <strong>and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required to sign up.</p><p></p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live & Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>for Lymphatic Drainage & Boosting Your Immune System!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl2vqlpyfe3yh0biohgxyx2hg","name":"[CTA-LEAD]","description":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl4gnwnrlga640ck37gutx7sn","name":"[CTA-GC]","description":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"}],"post":{"id":"ckqcetz68tefr0a76fc42yga7","slug":"yoga-for-core","author":{"name":"Namrata","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Using Your Core: How Yoga for Your Core Beats Traditional Ab Workouts","createdAt":"2021-06-25T14:08:50.296931+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-04-25T11:39:53.847826+00:00","coverUrl":"kzbzykw7qptix3xwfo7h.jpg","seoDescription":"Yoga for your core? We say yes! Yoga is an excellent way to build a stronger core, which helps with all other aspects of your practice!","content":{"text":"Have you ever heard someone say that? \\n\\n“Use your core!”\\n\\nMaybe it was a trainer, a dance teacher, or perhaps a yoga instructor! That’s because (as I’m sure you already know) your core muscles are imperative to protecting many other parts of your body!\\n\\nWe wouldn’t be preaching (aka screaming) it so much if it wasn’t important.\\n\\nThere are many types of core workouts and exercises specifically for your abdominal muscles. And I’m not saying they’re ineffective. They are, when done correctly.\\n\\nPart of the problem is that people don’t do the exercises correctly.\\n\\nThe other part of the problem I’ll discuss below.\\n\\nOr, if you wanna check out my \\nYoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening\\n on myYogaTeacher, you’ll see the differences for yourself! We’d love to have you!\\n\\nNot a myYogaTeacher member yet? Really?! You’ve got to check it out. \\nGet your 2-week free trial here and experience my class and over 35 others.\\n There’s a yoga class for everyone. Literally!\\n\\nIn the meantime, let’s dive into how yoga for your core is different – and more beneficial – than traditional core exercises.\\n\\nYoga for your core is more efficient\\n\\nWhy would you spend all your time conditioning individual muscle groups when you could be working multiple muscle groups all at once?\\n\\nYoga is a dynamic practice. Meaning you’ll be working your core while doing everything from something simple like tree pose to something more complicated like plough pose.\\n\\nAnd everything in between. There is almost never a time during a yoga session when you’re not using your core.\\n\\nExcept in savasana, of course. Where you absolutely deserve to not use your core!\\n\\nAnd speaking of dynamics…\\n\\nYoga for your core is much more dynamic\\n\\nSo not only are you using your core in almost every single yoga pose, in ever single yoga session, you are using those muscles differently than you would with traditional ab exercises.\\n\\nFor example, in boat pose, you’re working your upper and lower abdominal muscles, even your obliques. You’re also working your thighs, glutes, and your arms! All in one move.\\n\\nThere are lots of yoga poses specifically for your core muscles. \\n\\nPlank, for instance. Plank is a part of a regular yoga practice or flow. You’ll work your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, thighs and every single ab muscle you’ve got.\\n\\nTrust me. You’ll feel it!\\n\\nAny core yoga pose will work more than just one muscle group, unlike traditional ab exercises.\\n\\nYoga for your core is safer\\n\\nDo you know how easy it is to injure yourself doing traditional ab exercises?\\n\\nIt is. Mostly because people do the exercises incorrectly. Which is easy to do when you’re tired or straining one group or set of muscles.\\n\\nCrunches, for instance. A seemingly simple exercise.\\n\\nWhen you’re tired or your core is tired, you will have a tendency to pull on the back of your neck or lead with your head instead of your abs. This puts a ton of strain on your neck and spine and can cause injury.\\n\\nUsing various different ab machines can put strain on other muscles and not even help you strengthen your abdominal muscles at all.\\n\\nThere are plenty of other examples I could give, but suffice it to say that yoga is just safer. One, you’re using your core even when the asana isn’t focused on your core. Two, yoga is all about body awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self.\\n\\nWhich means if you’re straining in areas where you shouldn’t be, you’ll realize it fairly quickly and know how to correct it.\\n\\nYoga for your core provides variety\\n\\nYou know traditional core workouts are boring. I’ll admit it for you so you don’t have to.\\n\\nDoes anyone actually like doing ab workouts? No, probably not.\\n\\nThat’s because they are the exact same “tried and true” exercises that have been taught and preached to us for years and years and years.\\n\\nBut guess what? Yoga is older than those exercises! (You probably knew that already)\\n\\nThere are hundreds – possibly thousands – of different yoga flows. There are over 20 different types of yoga. Combined with the many different yoga poses, this means that the possibilities of core workouts are almost endless!\\n\\nYou could probably do something different every single day for the rest of your life!\\n\\nCan you say that about traditional ab workouts? No. Because it’s the same exercises just in different sequences. There’s usually only one way to do them too. Which is very limiting.\\n\\nYoga flattens your belly\\n\\nIsn’t that what we all want?\\n\\nFlatter, stronger abdominal muscles?\\n\\nA strong core protects our back, our entire skeletal system. Having a flat tummy helps prevent things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and even asthma!\\n\\nSomething you don’t get with traditional abdominal exercises is cardio.\\n\\nNot all yoga provides cardio, of course, But there are many types that do. As a matter of fact, some types of yoga burn more calories per hour than many conventional exercises like running, the elliptical, or swimming.\\n\\nThe point is, yoga is a safe, healthy all in one form of exercise with benefits that far exceed a strong core and loss of belly fat! \\n\\n\\nWant to see for yourself? Take my \\nYoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening \\nclass for a test run! Let me know you read this blog post and I’ll be sure to talk about it in class. If you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you definitely should. \\nHere’s the link again to get your 2-week free trial.\\n You’ll have access to all the classes that MYT has to offer and can even chat with the instructors, all of which are expert yoga teachers!\\n\\n","html":"<p>Have you ever heard someone say that? </p><p></p><p>“Use your core!”</p><p></p><p>Maybe it was a trainer, a dance teacher, or perhaps a yoga instructor! That’s because (as I’m sure you already know) your core muscles are imperative to protecting many other parts of your body!</p><p></p><p>We wouldn’t be preaching (aka screaming) it so much if it wasn’t important.</p><p></p><p>There are many types of core workouts and exercises specifically for your abdominal muscles. And I’m not saying they’re ineffective. They are, when done correctly.</p><p></p><p>Part of the problem is that people don’t do the exercises correctly.</p><p></p><p>The other part of the problem I’ll discuss below.</p><p></p><p>Or, if you wanna check out my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\">Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening</a> on myYogaTeacher, you’ll see the differences for yourself! We’d love to have you!</p><p></p><p>Not a myYogaTeacher member yet? Really?! You’ve got to check it out. <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">Get your 2-week free trial here and experience my class and over 35 others.</a> There’s a yoga class for everyone. Literally!</p><p></p><p>In the meantime, let’s dive into how yoga for your core is different – and more beneficial – than traditional core exercises.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is more efficient</h2><p></p><p>Why would you spend all your time conditioning individual muscle groups when you could be working multiple muscle groups all at once?</p><p></p><p>Yoga is a dynamic practice. Meaning you’ll be working your core while doing everything from something simple like tree pose to something more complicated like plough pose.</p><p></p><p>And everything in between. There is almost never a time during a yoga session when you’re not using your core.</p><p></p><p>Except in savasana, of course. Where you absolutely deserve to not use your core!</p><p></p><p>And speaking of dynamics…</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is much more dynamic</h2><p></p><p>So not only are you using your core in almost every single yoga pose, in ever single yoga session, you are using those muscles differently than you would with traditional ab exercises.</p><p></p><p>For example, in boat pose, you’re working your upper and lower abdominal muscles, even your obliques. You’re also working your thighs, glutes, and your arms! All in one move.</p><p></p><p>There are lots of yoga poses specifically for your core muscles. </p><p></p><p>Plank, for instance. Plank is a part of a regular yoga practice or flow. You’ll work your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, thighs and every single ab muscle you’ve got.</p><p></p><p>Trust me. You’ll feel it!</p><p></p><p>Any core yoga pose will work more than just one muscle group, unlike traditional ab exercises.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core is safer</h2><p></p><p>Do you know how easy it is to injure yourself doing traditional ab exercises?</p><p></p><p>It is. Mostly because people do the exercises incorrectly. Which is easy to do when you’re tired or straining one group or set of muscles.</p><p></p><p>Crunches, for instance. A seemingly simple exercise.</p><p></p><p>When you’re tired or your core is tired, you will have a tendency to pull on the back of your neck or lead with your head instead of your abs. This puts a ton of strain on your neck and spine and can cause injury.</p><p></p><p>Using various different ab machines can put strain on other muscles and not even help you strengthen your abdominal muscles at all.</p><p></p><p>There are plenty of other examples I could give, but suffice it to say that yoga is just safer. One, you’re using your core even when the asana isn’t focused on your core. Two, yoga is all about body awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self.</p><p></p><p>Which means if you’re straining in areas where you shouldn’t be, you’ll realize it fairly quickly and know how to correct it.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga for your core provides variety</h2><p></p><p>You know traditional core workouts are boring. I’ll admit it for you so you don’t have to.</p><p></p><p>Does anyone actually like doing ab workouts? No, probably not.</p><p></p><p>That’s because they are the exact same “tried and true” exercises that have been taught and preached to us for years and years and years.</p><p></p><p>But guess what? Yoga is older than those exercises! (You probably knew that already)</p><p></p><p>There are hundreds – possibly thousands – of different yoga flows. There are over 20 different types of yoga. Combined with the many different yoga poses, this means that the possibilities of core workouts are almost endless!</p><p></p><p>You could probably do something different every single day for the rest of your life!</p><p></p><p>Can you say that about traditional ab workouts? No. Because it’s the same exercises just in different sequences. There’s usually only one way to do them too. Which is very limiting.</p><p></p><h2>Yoga flattens your belly</h2><p></p><p>Isn’t that what we all want?</p><p></p><p>Flatter, stronger abdominal muscles?</p><p></p><p>A strong core protects our back, our entire skeletal system. Having a flat tummy helps prevent things like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and even asthma!</p><p></p><p>Something you don’t get with traditional abdominal exercises is cardio.</p><p></p><p>Not all yoga provides cardio, of course, But there are many types that do. As a matter of fact, some types of yoga burn more calories per hour than many conventional exercises like running, the elliptical, or swimming.</p><p></p><p>The point is, yoga is a safe, healthy all in one form of exercise with benefits that far exceed a strong core and loss of belly fat! </p><p></p><p></p><p>Want to see for yourself? Take my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-core-and-muscle-strengthening-by-namrata\">Yoga for Core and Muscle Strengthening </a>class for a test run! Let me know you read this blog post and I’ll be sure to talk about it in class. If you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you definitely should. <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">Here’s the link again to get your 2-week free trial.</a> You’ll have access to all the classes that MYT has to offer and can even chat with the instructors, all of which are expert yoga teachers!</p><p></p><p></p>"},"category":["fitness"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":[{"session_uuid":"f46f3cbf-1503-488e-a80a-b2bcbe1cf3f2","student_uuid":"04f2f4f2-f580-42f3-98fd-dc8581fd5363","teacher_uuid":"90938542-e338-44a9-add9-13d9433b3546","teacher_name":"Vineeta Sharma","teacher_first_name":"Vineeta","teacher_slug":"vineeta-1","teacher_photo":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/v1654341589/teacher/photos/auudtelod3uh08zvoswv.jpg","group_session_name":"Yoga for Women","group_session_description":"Women are the source of life and energy on the planet. 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