Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife

Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife

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Carmen started practicing yoga in 1999, opened her yoga studio, The Lab, in Chicago, in 2010, started traveling around the world teaching yoga in 2016.

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 11/27/2024

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✔️asanas rarely taught
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✔️original variants & prop’s uses
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Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/27/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 2️⃣7️⃣ of with ➡️ variant 👋🏼🎄🤖
The last pose from October’s was the last pose that month and one of the milestones of a good practice. I wanted to leave you with something really meaningful before I took my long break… This backbend is one of those you can constantly improve, no matter how long you’ve been practicing. Those of you subscribed, head to class #277💻 “Learning to breathe in Chin Scorpion” for a thorough warm up, careful breakdown and different props’ uses to support your journey. Read these before starting:
♏️ there’s a lot of internal work happening that can’t be explained in a post (class will help with that). The first priority is to make your bend so that you can STAY and breathe comfortably. If that means using blocks or a wall in front, so be it;
♏️ as you project legs over, think of them resting on a sofa, then “slide” them across the top and extend. Repeat the process 4-5 times, going each one a little deeper. This visual will help tremendously with this final shape;
♏️ if legs reach out a lot, arms can fold like in the pic, even lift up. Just make sure to remain anchored through chest, sternum and shoulder top.
The nervous system and how to deal with the idea of holding your weight on the neck and shoulders is something that’ll happen gradually, as your flexibility & endurance increase, hang in there, literally! This is not everyone’s cup of tea (and that’s ok!) so, if you’re in that group, head to my amazing helpers & .moves for a more doable alternative🙌🏻. Thank you Katy and Christine for the amazing work you’ve been doing this month and SO MANY months, for so many years… but more acknowledgements tomorrow, on our final day 💚!!

🔖Find today’s pose & more in class #277: “Learning to breathe in Chin Scorpion”
Practice with me from home🏠 by visiting https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧘🏻🏋🏻‍♀️📬

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/26/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 2️⃣6️⃣ of with ➡️ 👋🏼🎄🤖
Also from October’s we got this intense forward fold that we hadn’t practiced in a long long time… seems like you guys liked it enough to include it once more before the year is over 👍🏻!For those subscribed to my channel, there are a few classes you can take, but 💻 #343 “Tittibhasana: binds & balance” tackles this in a hip-friendly way and directly applies the compression work into inversions and standing poses. Warning: it’s a VERY fun class (for those who haven’t yet, head to cyogalife.com and enjoy a 7-day free trial… no excuses😉!). Questions I get all the time:
🥨 prioritize good form on the forward fold over binding. The bind WILL happen naturally if you fold deeply, and yes, even with shorter arms you can still do this!
🥨 open legs hip width or slightly more, but don’t go much wider than that;
🥨 when you crawl one arm under its leg, start with the ‘less cooperative’ one first, then the other and, VERY important, do NOT bend knees too much to wrap around the legs! It may seem like a good idea at first but it’ll actually send you further from the bind and deplete your energy in no time;
🥨 legs as straight at possible at all times.The final umpf! after the bind is particularly challenging for the hamstrings;
🥨 think of wrapping around the waist circumference NOT the hip one;
🥨 there is a ton of compression and forward fold required, but don’t forget to warm up shoulders’ internal rotation for binds because, right at the end, you’ll need that little inch of scapular retraction to make contact🤲🏻.
Remember to check my amazing helpers and .moves for a much needed alternative and further insights…. 2 more days to go, no more challenges (at least for a year) after that! Hang in there and have a great one🔥!!

🔖Find today’s pose & more in my class #343: “Tittibhasana: binds & balance”
Practice with me from home🏠 by visiting https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧘🏻🏋🏻‍♀️📬

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/25/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 2️⃣5️⃣ of with ➡️ or variant 👋🏼🎄🤖
From October’s we got these next 3 poses that will help you stay connected to that area of the body. Consider this first variant the equivalent of Vertical Splits, but for Middle Splits… it’s such an amazing pose that strengthens abduction & adduction (versus the flexion & extension of Vertical Splits), so they complement each other perfectly. In my library, head to class 💻 #229 “Middle Splits & pancakes” for a full of these moves, different options, as well as plenty of inversion time… time will fly🤸🏻‍♀️! Remember these:
🌗 easiest way to enter is from Half Moon. Call for those upper leg’s flexors, quads, side gluts and obliques. Allow leg to keep rising so that, ideally, it’ll get in line with the other. Make sure bum doesn’t stick out too much (practicing it against a wall will help with the balance as well as correct those habits);
🌗 find the balance between outer legs pulling them wider apart, and inner ones finding stability. Keep pushing through ball of the big toe, engage medial (inner) arch and let that activation run up inner leg line all the way to the groin & p***c bone;
🌗 keep low back as neutral as possible, as well as cervical spine (don’t throw head back). Option to look up towards the sky to make it more challenging😉;
🌗 keep little weight on the fingers, most of it should be on the legs;
🌗 aligning upper arm with lower one is an exercise in proprioception. Do this facing a mirror/your phone, to feel where the line is.
Try a few times each side and keep going these last few days🙌🏻!!

For other fun alternatives, go check and .moves to see what they have in store.
🔖Find today’s pose and more in my class #229: “Middle Splits & pancakes”
Practice with me from home🏠 by visiting https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🎡🌻☀️

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/15/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 1️⃣5️⃣ of with ➡️ to or 👋🏼🎄🤖
The last drill from June’s is one you can work on for years! There’s the occasional practitioner that can do this press right away, but, for most people, it takes many months, or years, to lift effortlessly. In my library there are a few classes dedicated to this move, but 💻 #134 “Strike the pike” breaks down the moves and prepares you physically, mentally, along with some breathwork, to have the best shot (if you haven’t yet, subscribe 7 days for free and see your practice take a huge leap💥!). Here are a few tips that will build confidence:
🚀imagine, or put, a foam block or light ball between thighs & low ribs. Squeeze it tightly as you pull navel in, lift hips and come up on tiptoes;
🚀when it’s time to peel toes off the ground, push hands even more against floor, straighten elbows so that hips are 1 mm higher, send them overhead without moving shoulders forward. This is a weird (and scary) sensation at first that you need to get used to in order to nail this lift;
🚀coming down is just as important as lifting up, see vid & practice BOTH!
🚀In my opinion, most practitioners tend to choose a drill that’s way too difficult for them. So, for example, if you kick into Handstand but, as soon as your legs go horizontal, you fall, try lower them just a tad, barely leaning your butt on the wall, then return back to a straight Handstand. Repeat x10 without falling. In no time, you’ll go horizontal and beyond.
The nervous system needs time for you to hold and STAY in the pose, so that it’ll figure out how forward hips need to go, how much to squeeze legs, how much to push with the shoulders and so on…
Check out my gorgeous helpers Katy and Christine .moves for a friendlier alternative so that nobody stays behind… more than halfway there already🙌🏻! Let’s go!

🔖Find today’s pose and more in my class #134: “Strike the pike”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🤸🏻‍♀️💪🏻📶

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/11/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 1️⃣1️⃣ of with ➡️ Standing or variant👋🏼🎄🤖
Also from May’s we got this intriguing twist and, because I don’t like to do too many backbends back to back, it’ll feel like a break from the last few days🙌🏻. It’s not a total chilling pose because I still want to keep your head in the game (this balancing pose achieves that 😉), but I also want it to be different enough. A focusing on twists, balancing and bracing your core, is a great counterbalance to release the spine from previous days and feel limber (for those subscribed, class #159💻: “Inversion clockwork” covers all that and has some interesting inversions as well🤸🏻‍♀️). Let’s take a quick look:
🥨 prior to this, practice the seated version, Marichyasana C. Make sure kneecap reaches opposite armpit and engage abs/flexors both to pin hips down and to get torso closer to leg. Don’t rely on the bind so much, soften the finger grip and maximize spinal rotation;
🥨 if you need a strap to complete the bind sitting, you’ll need it for sure for the standing version (it requires more balancing skills, so chances are you won’t be able to twist as deeply). An intermediate step would be to lean butt against wall, try the twist and lace hands there (bent foot will also touch it);
🥨 for those doing it mid room, if you rest the sole onto opposite thigh as you bind, then slide it to the side, you’ll have more overall stability. You can look down or, challenge your balancing skills further, and turn head towards ceiling.
Notice how the weight shifts towards the heel, butt going back, as you complete the bind (see pic how my butt is behind base foot). Lots of balance, twists and precision… don’t get frustrated! Enjoy and keep going 👍🏻!

For a more doable alternative, remember to check what & .moves offer today.
🔖Find today’s pose and more in my class #159: “Inversion clockwork”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧚🏼‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️🌻

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/10/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 🔟 of with ➡️ at the wall with Middle or variant 👋🏼🎄🤖
From May’s we got these next 3 days (not all bbends!). Today’s pose works both the and the Splits element at once. Wall distance is important. You might need to readjust a couple of times depending on body proportions, flexibility etc. For those subscribed, head to class #163 💻“Chin Scorpion, Splits & middle Splits” to this particular variant and other interesting ones as well. A few questions people have:
🔃 resist the temptation of doing a huge anterior tilt and “hold” hips with your abs. Because of the nature of the pose, some of it is going to happen, just try not to overdo it, that’s all. Use your abs like an invisible rope that gives and allows a few degrees of tilting at the end, when the rest of the back is already in position;
🔃 the backbend helps the middle Splits and vice versa so, as you walk hands down the wall and push strongly against it, legs will also open wider;
🔃 keep “grabbing” the floor with inner thighs, calves and heels;
🔃 if middle Splits is too much for inner groin, try the same thing sitting on your heels, knees as wide as possible. You can also use that variant to warm up for this;
🔃 prioritize straightening arms, externally rotating shoulders, over walking hands lower.
One last thing: pay attention to the exit! Some people go too low and they feel stuck. Retrace your steps, lift on fingertips and strongly push out🙌🏻! Time to unroll that mat and see what happens. Let me know…⚡️

For another alternative, go check my beautiful helpers & .moves
🔖Find today’s pose and more in class #163: “Chin scorpion, Splits & middle Splits”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧚🏼‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️🌻

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/09/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 9️⃣ of with ➡️ variant 👋🏼🎄🤖
The last pose from April’s is this remarkable backbend that will keep us busy for a long, long time! I strongly recommend you with class 💻 #299 “Crossover binds in BBends” because there’s nothing like building progressively towards a certain posture and understanding the different elements at play. A few things to consider before you start:
🧶 notice how I grab opposite arm & leg so, at some point, whether you use straps to complete the bind, or can hold feet comfortably, you’ll need to cross legs in an “X”, switch arms, then continue;
🧶 to do the switch, practice it right now by crossing one forearm in front of the other. Slide the top one up the other until hand reaches armpit. That’s exactly the same movement you’ll have to do laying on the belly. It’s like putting a “difficult” sweater on kinda movement…🥵;
🧶one of the arm/leg pairs will extend towards the ceiling while the other is being pulled down. It’s a weird combination of energies and that’ll also make you slightly off centered (you’ll lean more onto one hip than the other);
🧶regular Padangustha Dhanurasana (like the upper arm/leg) prior to this, is a must, to open shoulders & upper back and understand the move. Play with bringing feet together and, if your cross them a bit, perhaps arms as well, that’s a huge deal already🙌🏻!! Remember to check out my amazing helpers and .moves for a much needed, more doable, alternative and hang in there!
Again, if you’re serious about it, head to the library and practice the class because it will cover SO much more… have fun🔥!

🧩 Find today’s pose and more in my class #299: “Crossover binds in BBends”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🤸🏻‍♀️🥁🎰

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/08/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 8️⃣ of with ➡️ or variant 👋🏼🎄🤖
Also from April’s we got this sneaky where, the final lift, just a couple of inches off the ground, is… precious🥵. The twist makes it extra active btw. For those subscribed, play and play with, class #289 “Lumbar strength in Eka Pada Sirsasana”, which will break it down in depth and provide other options to help you get there. Before you start, let’s take a look at a couple of things:
🚩if you can pass your leg behind the head but it can’t stay there, you can still try this. Make sure that, as you lean sideways, you pull foot down until sole touches it (or ball of the big toe at least). Rest that forearm on the floor and readjust the other to give you more traction (in the pic, I also drop it, but I did that to show what’s happening behind. It’d have helped more to press palm down, not forearm);
🚩use the ground contact to help you revolve, turn towards sky and deepen the hip external rotation some more;
🚩activate/extend back leg, curl toes under and, on exhale, push with every inch of your body that’s in contact with the ground, away from it. Because your center is so close to it, it’ll be hard to raise. Feel your obliques, lats, serratus, side leg muscles and base shoulder, contract to keep you up,
Doing this on lava rock is not the friendliest🤕! Use extra padding if needed, a wall behind (it’ll give you traction to lift, especially with the back leg), or find a block under front foot (to find a surface to lean on easier). Head to and .moves for a more doable alternative🙌🏻! Nobody is left behind, ever!! Adapt as needed and let’s make this month count😉👌🏻!

🧩Find today’s pose and more in my class #289: “Lumbar strength in Eka Pada Sirsasana”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🤸🏻‍♀️🥁🎰

12/07/2023

Announcing the winners of last month’s challenge : , , and !!!!🎉🎉🎊🎊 Congrats to them and all of you that participated!!🌟 It means so much, after the hard work, that you guys enjoy these challenges and are part of them, relentlessly, month after month 🙏🏻. Winners, we will contact you via DM for how to redeem your prizes 🙌🏻

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 12/07/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 7️⃣ of with ➡️ or 👋🏼🎄🤖
From April we got these amazing next 3 days. Today is one of those poses that looks more innocent than it is… beware! The twist adds an extra element that, even though the back knee is on the ground, you’ll likely struggle to find your balance and revolve. The more thorough your warm up, the better chance to succeed (head to class #223 💻“Vasistha, Visvamitra & lateral flexions”, for a creative way to approach this and many other side bends). When you’re ready:
🌀 first a kneeling version of Pyramid and make sure hamstrings are ok. If you struggle, have a couple of blocks at hand and move them as you see fit;
🌀come out and repeat, only this time revolving torso and passing opposite arm over leg. Continue to twist and reach that hand towards back heel. Don’t worry if it doesn’t get all the way there, plant fingers as close to it as you can and reach free arm overhead to hold other foot. Revolve torso, pass it through and look up to ceiling. This last gaze shift is tricky, make sure you move your eyes slowly, to keep your balance;
🌀if you’re close but can’t quite hold the ankle, walk back knee, just a tad in, so hips are more leveled and the distance is (slightly) smaller;
🌀keep grounding heavily through front heel and back toes. How steady you are on those points will determine not only how solid you’ll be, but also how much you’ll be able to rotate. Revolve the whole spine, pull navel in, find its contact with inner thigh, lengthen through the side of the body, from hip crest to upper elbow, and breathe a few times. Repeat on the other side and you got it💥!

For a less tricky alternative, remember to check my gorgeous helpers & .moves
🧩Find today’s pose & more in class #223: “Vasistha, Visvamitra & lateral flexions”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🤸🏻‍♀️🥁🎰

11/30/2023

Announcing December’s challenge: . It’s that time of the year, where we look back at what we worked on during this 2023, reevaluate, appreciate our and plan what we should do in 2024. This month we’re going to repeat 3 star poses 🌟🌟🌟 from each month, February to October, plus 1 new one at the end😉. As I usually do, there’s a little bit of everything: backbends, strength, balancing, inversions, hip openers, splits, side bends… so, as we revisit these essential postures, they’ll unfold and reveal new information that we can carry onto next year and beyond. Don’t worry if you can’t do some of them, my helpers, Katy and Christine, and I will offer modifications, so that nobody stays behind. For me, that’s a personal motto so, if you WANT, we’ll help you figure out what the best alternative would be. I always aim to create a space where you can grow, learn, experiment and participate regardless of skill, age or social construct. This month is also filled with celebrations 🥳 and distractions🤪 so ,whether you have a hard time sticking to your practice (I feel you… doing them helps me stay on track as well🙌🏻!), or want to see how this year has affected it, this is the perfect challenge to do🔥! We’ll have fun as well, I promise👌🏻!! As usual, to join, simply:
1️⃣ follow
2️⃣ repost this, comment, tag 2 friends (seriously, it’s much easier to finish!⛄️⛄️)
3️⃣ participate and post using
Besides my daily video & explanation, my gorgeous helpers, Katy and Christine .moves will provide further insights and modifications so that nobody stays behind💙!! Plus, awesome gifts🎁 for the winners at the end! Slide in⛷, practice and let’s have a blast… get ready, we start tonight, Dec 1st eve!☃️🎄🫶🏻

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 11/28/2023

🧞‍♂️🦄🌪️Day 2️⃣8️⃣ of with ➡️ 🌪️🦄🧞‍♂️
LAST DAY💥💥💥!!!! We did it🥳👏🏻!! First of all, CONGRATS to those of you that made it this far, I know it wasn’t easy and there were some really tough days💦! PLEASE, comment👇🏻if you did and what the best day, also the toughest one😝, were… I really want to know! Secondly, this is a complex that requires a lot of moving pieces to work seamlessly so, consider it homework and something to keep exploring overtime (no need to tackle all of it at once).
👩🏻‍💻Having said that, if you go to my library, on class #160“BBends: shoulder openers towards Pad. Dhanurasana”, we prep the body and work towards it. There’s several props’ uses as well to support your journey.
🔥Practicing with me consistently (live, on-demand or both), is going to make a dramatic difference, but you gotta keep at it, show up and put the work. There’s no other secret than that….
💥If you haven’t tried my library yet, visit cyogalife.com and sign up for a 7-day free trial👍🏻! It’s an awesome deal and you’ll see that, if you stay, your practice will flourish like never before🌱🌳.
Like I metioned above, there are too many elements in today’s pose to cover in one post but, if you can’t grab your feet overhead in Padangustha Dhanurasana, head to my helpers Shire and Jocelyn to see what alternative they offer and what tips they have.Thank you both for an amazing job this month, I love you 🧡🧡!!
After a couple of days of rest, join me again for the last challenge of the year and the LAST one before my sabbatical😉! Much love to all and ❤️…

🔖Find today’s pose & more in class #160: “BBends: shoulder openers towards…”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🌀🤸🏻‍♀️🎩🧚🏼‍♀️

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 11/27/2023

🧞‍♂️🦄🌪️Day 2️⃣7️⃣ of with ➡️ or variant 🌪️🦄🧞‍♂️
For the last + twist of the month we got this leg behind the head variant that also requires a strong sense of balance. For those practicing with me, click ▶️ on class #206 👩🏻‍💻“Hips: twists in Eka Pada Sirsasana” to see a proper break down & build up towards this, as well as other alternatives to consider👍🏻. Before starting, keep in mind that:
🌱neck needs to keep pushing slightly back, to keep the leg in place. Gravity will also press on you, so the standing forward fold will be natural, but don’t surrender the neck entirely;
🌱when you’re about to do the twist, bend base leg so it’s easier to pass opposite arm over. Exhale fully as you do that and engage obliques to keep the rotation;
🌱for the bind you need to be patient, absolutely no harsh moves or you’ll fall! Internally rotate shoulder, reach other arm behind and slowly crawl fingers closer;
🌱once you lace them, the toughest part is to straighten the base knee. This is where you need to be incredibly aware of where your balance is on the foot (front/back, but also side-to-side), to make micro-adjustments as knee locks;
Props like a wall or a strap will surely help but, if that still feels like you’re grasping at straws, see the alternative that my helpers Shire and Jocelyn offer today🙌🏻! Difficulty can’t overshadow the learning process… adapt as needed and hang in there one more day🔥😉!!!

🔖Find today’s pose & more in my class #206: “Hips: twists in Eka Pada Sirsasana”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🌀🤸🏻‍♀️🎩🧚🏼‍♀️

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 11/26/2023

🧞‍♂️🦄🌪️Day 2️⃣6️⃣ of with ➡️ in 🌪️🦄🧞‍♂️
The twist here comes from the legs rather than the spine. It’s an interesting to practice. Notice how it feels in the hips & flexors. For those wondering which class is the best, head to #221 👩🏻‍💻“Bbends + internal hip rotations”. It’s pretty unique in its content and the kind of peak poses we’ll cover🔥(if you haven’t tried my library yet, visit cyogalife.com, sign up for a 7-day free trial and stay to make your practice take off🚀!). Important points to keep in mind:
♏️ if Eagle legs is too intense of a wrap, just cross one thigh over the other and squeeze inner heels towards each other;
♏️ because of the internal rotation of the femurs, hips won’t extend like they usually do, so it’ll be harder to arch. The good news is that, if you do regular Pincha right after, it’ll feel 10 times easier than usual😉;
♏️ balancing is also slightly more challenging because legs are together (when they’re apart, they can compensate any small moves from the lumbar/shoulders);
♏️ instead of trying to close the gap between feet and head, do the opposite, squeeze legs together, far from you, and give priority to lengthening quads/flexors.
♏️ the leg cross makes this uneven on the lumbar, try to level as much possible⚖️.
Lot more things could be said (do the class👍🏻), but this is a good start. Have fun and keep going… you’re so close now💥!!

For a more doable alternative, check Shire and Jocelyn
🔖Find today’s pose and more in my class #221: “BBends + internal hip rotations”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🌀🤸🏻‍♀️🎩🧚🏼‍♀️

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 11/25/2023

🧞‍♂️🦄🌪️Day 2️⃣5️⃣ of with ➡️ 🌪️🦄🧞‍♂️
Last 4 days: 2 hip openers + 2 backbends + a twist on top🌀. To me, this is one of the most elegant arm balances with your leg behind the head. It takes some time, but one good thing is that, practicing this, forces you to get better at several different elements. If you’re subscribed to my library, head to class #317👩🏻‍💻 “Making Parsva Dandasana accessible” for a carefully constructed sequence that’ll give you a good shot at unlocking those hips and tackle this asana🔥🙌🏻. Read these before starting:
💦even if you can keep your leg behind the neck, you still have to work to maintain it there. Head needs to pull back so leg doesn’t fly out (there’s a common misconception that you’re ‘relaxed’ there, when it’s a very active hip opener);
💦 because spine and hips are connected, movement in one will affect the other. In this case, when you twist the spine, hips will also want to move. You need to stop them and isolate the rotation. This will make the tougher than usual😅;
💦 another skill to acquire is to roll head side to side (like saying ‘no’) while your calf is behind. Make sure leg doesn’t slip while you do that;
💦 the is very straightforward if leg can stay in place when you twist. Plant palms right underneath, mount up and voilá!
💦 extra points if you sink hips but point leg diagonally upwards (it’s extra hard💪🏻).
Use a strap to keep the leg in, or check out my helpers and to do their alternative🙌🏻!! Nobody stays behind💥! Have a great one….

🔖Find today’s pose and more in my class #317: “Making Parsva Danda accessible”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🌀🤸🏻‍♀️🎩🧚🏼‍♀️

Photos from Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife's post 11/24/2023

🧞‍♂️🦄🌪️Day 2️⃣4️⃣ of with ➡️ in or variant in 🌪️🦄🧞‍♂️
If this side bend feels too much in Handstand, you’re welcome to do it in Forearm Balance and/or Headstand instead.
For those subscribed to my channel, head to class 💻 #329 “Improving range in side bends” for a 70-min full of drills, active mobilization, strengthening for all levels and several inversions to help you get there (if you haven’t tried my library yet, don’t wait any longer, visit cyogalife.com and sign up for a 7-day free trial💥!). A few important points to keep in mind:
🤸🏻‍♀️ this ladylike leg cross is less demanding that Garudasana. Garuda requires more hip IR and, for many people that can’t do that easily, it’ll automatically start to rotate the spine, which is a major no❌;
🤸🏻‍♀️the weight of the legs will help with the side bend BUT it’ll also mean that your shoulder needs to push more… it’s a trade off: the more you bend, the stronger you have to be to resist it. Flexibility & strength go hand in hand here🤲🏻;
🤸🏻‍♀️as you inhale, push tall, shoulders to ears, lengthen spine and create more space along ribs. Let the air out as you side bend;
🤸🏻‍♀️if you do this at the wall, rest toes lightly on it, to feel any small rotation that may happen (it will). Lock abs to stop any “helicopter-ing” 🚁 move;
🤸🏻‍♀️even if you don’t go into a deep lateral flexion, make it a clean one and avoid twisting. Learn to differentiate between those 2 to have more degrees of freedom.
This is an amazing posture to spend time on, not just today, but moving forward🔥!! Have a great time upside down and let me know how it goes🙌🏻!

For a more manageable alternative, go check and
🔖Find today’s pose and more in my class #329: “Improving range in side bends”
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🌀🤸🏻‍♀️🎩🧚🏼‍♀️

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