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Urban Yoga

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3701 Aspect Tower, Executive Towers
Dubai, Business Bay United Arab Emirates

04 369 7882 yoga@urbanyoga.ae

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Don’t mind me, I’m just over hear getting warm

Don’t mind me, I’m just over hear getting warmed up for tomorrow’s class YOU AND A BLOCK.

We’re definitely going to explore these Figure Eight Prasarita Lunges tomorrow but not as a warm up. We’ll do this in between some super slow work using the block to organize muscle tension differently and cultivate more intention in our transitions through some standing poses. These Prasarita Figure Eights will be an interlude to groove a bit before we rein it in and do the second side.
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Want in?
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YOU AND A BLOCK, Tuesday 10/20, 12-1p EST

This is the first class in a 4-part class series running for the next four Tuesday’s One Prop, Many Possibilities.

Each class we’ll do the stimulus response dance with our prop in focus - block, blanket, wall, floor (in that order)

We’ll move with the prop, against it, on it, into it, away from it, across and over it and notice how its input changes our output and the way we experience our body as a result.

This live class (You and a Block + all classes in the One Prop, Many Possibilities Series) + access to the recordings are FREE for members.

Dropping in? Pay $15 to join live + get a 7-day replay of the class emailed to you after class ends.

Membership and drop-in links in bio 👀

Flexion gets a bad rap but it’s a way our spine

Flexion gets a bad rap but it’s a way our spine can move, so as long as we don’t have sensitivity in that position, why not explore it like we explore back-bending, rotating, and side body stretches?

Also, exercises like this that ask me to effort neck flexion take me back to the days when lots of us were trying to relax our necks all the time. Tension (especially neck tension) had negative connotations.

I’d feel so confused when I would hear a teacher suggest that my neck should (or could) relax while I held my head up away from the floor.

After experiencing some neck discomfort for a time, and trying different stuff, I realized actually that the thing that helped my neck feel better was exercising it actively, contracting my neck muscles against some source of resistance like the weight of my head, pressing my head into something like a block, or working against banded tension. Things like that that made my neck stronger, but also, getting stronger all around my shoulders (and the one that really blew my mind was the connection I felt between my grip strength and my neck.)

Now it makes total sense why strengthening my neck is as important as strengthening my glutes, hamstrings, abdominal muscles, or lats.

And I learned that tension is not the enemy of bodily comfort. Sometimes it’s the impetus for it.

Wanna play with ways a block can become the impetus for generating more tension in our practice, exploring under-explored positions and finding avenues of effort and connection?

YOU AND A BLOCK, Tuesday 10/20, 12-1pm EST

This live class and access to the recording is FREE for members. Dropping in? Pay $15 to join live + get a 7-day replay of the class emailed to you.

Links in bio — membership or drop-ins. 👀

Thank you @trinaaltman for the idea to press a block between my knees and forehead. The exercise was born out of a fabulous rolling video Trina shared a long time ago where she used the block like this. 💡 ❤️

The foam brick is softer than the cork one, but it

The foam brick is softer than the cork one, but it’s muuuch harder with this exercise. 🦶😳

My feet very easily invert, which is to say that the outside of my ankle is usually more convex or “puffed out” and the inside more concave with very lifted medial arches.

That makes this exercise especially challenging (and useful) for me. Keeping the brick from tipping off the inside edge of my foot requires a lot of my concentration and reveals very quickly just how difficult controlling my ankle with this truth-telling brick serum is, even as I stare at it intensely and discover that my foot has a mind of its own.

Not to mention the core work involved, and don’t even get me started on the dorsiflexion challenge of letting the brick slide off the toe side of my foot into my hands...

We’ll be exploring lots of ways (like this open chain, task-based ankle work) that a single block can offer us valuable information about our body.

YOU AND A BLOCK, Tuesday 10/20, 12-1p EST

This is the first class in a 4-part class series running for the next four Tuesday’s One Prop, Many Possibilities.

Each class we’ll do the stimulus response dance with our prop in focus - block, blanket, wall, floor (in that order)

We’ll move with the prop, against it, on it, into it, away from it, across and over it and notice how its input changes our output and the way we experience our body as a result.

This live class (You and a Block + all classes in the One Prop, Many Possibilities Series) + access to the recordings are FREE for members.

Dropping in? Pay $15 to join live + get a 7-day replay of the class emailed to you after class ends.

Membership and drop-in links in bio 👀

Time for a new CAR? (As in, controlled articular r

Time for a new CAR? (As in, controlled articular rotation) 🚗

Rolls Royce it. #yogiarmbar

Let’s explore each word. First KEEP. This impl

Let’s explore each word.

First KEEP.

This implies something was already happening, but for students who weren’t already “keeping their ribs down” it might be confusing.

Next RIBS.

Since we have 12 pairs of ribs, and they wrap around most of our trunk like a basket, it’s worth clarifying if we mean the ones that contribute to the slope of our shoulders, or the ones below our bra-line, or the side ribs under our armpits, or the front bottom ones that are mostly cartilage. Which ribs?

I think most of the time “ribs” (in this cue) refers to the front, bottom ribs (AKA the false ribs) that are made of cartilage at the front and so pretty pliable.

Now DOWN.

What does down mean? Purely from a directions perspective it’s not clear because down could mean toward the floor, right? But what if our whole rib cage is upside down (like in down dog) then the floor is actually up...See what I mean?

But beyond words like ribs and down, when I ask what does this cue mean, if we can’t feel that we have ribs or that they can move down, or if structurally our ribs don’t go that way, or if they do, it doesn’t feel good (especially if were being shamed, or a teacher physically pushes on our ribs against our will) then the cue ends up doing one of two things: it makes a non-impact or a negative-impact. Neither is likely what we intend as teachers.

And so by clarifying, it’s often less about the words and more about the experience.

A direct way to facilitate this particular experience is through self-touch and task engagement.

This is where hugging a brick comes in handy (or huggy).

Specifically, my self-applied pressure shows me RIBS and DOWN (which is now relative to me and my personal experience of it, as well as my personal sense of direction that I can feel with as much or little pressure as I want to give.)

If you find this topic compelling, join me for next Tuesday’s class YOU AND A BLOCK, Oct. 20th 12-1p EST

This live class and access to the recording is FREE for members. Dropping in? Pay $15 to join live + get a 7-day replay of the class emailed to you.

Links in bio — membership or drop-ins. 👀

Oh don’t mind me, I’m just over here planning

Oh don’t mind me, I’m just over here planning next Tuesday’s ONE PROP, MANY POSSIBILITIES class series, for part 1 — YOU AND A BLOCK.

In these videos (swipe L) I’m sharing one prop arrangement, with many possibilities, but don’t worry we’ll do more than press a block into the side of our skulls, I promise.

I must say, though, I’m diggin’ this use of a block as feedback for neck alignment and to highlight lateral neck muscle activation for a more active side body stretch, clearer rotation, core stabilization, and cross-pattern feedback and control.

If you wanna play with one block for an entire class with me next week, we’ll be doing more stuff like this!

Here are the deets!

YOU AND A BLOCK, Tuesday Oct. 20th 12-1p EST

This live class and access to the recording is FREE for members. Dropping in? Pay $15 to join live + get a 7-day replay of the class emailed to you after class ends.

This is the first class in the 4-class series where we’ll investigate the many different possibilities one prop (like a block or a blanket) or one structure (like a wall or a floor) can highlight for our bodies when we tune into the stimulus-response cycle it facilitates for us, while we move with it, against it, on it, into it, away from it, across and over it.

Expect a complete, well-rounded sequence that explores the different mechanisms of feedback one block offers.

Investigate creative ways a block can increase or decrease load and range of motion.

Play with how a block can provide touch stimulation and offer new avenues of coordination and connection.

Spice up “old” poses or movements and make them new again.

Expect generous space for movement and discovery, with the backbone of a carefully curated curriculum and plenty of context around the body science “why” for certain choices and who might benefit.

RECOMMENDED PROPS:
Any props you normally prefer to have handy for your practice
One block

Links in bio for membership or to drop in 👀

#evilshittodowithblocks #minimalprops #multidisciplinarymovement #virtualstudio #onepropmanypossibilities #blockflow #yogainspiration #yogapractice #yogaprops #yogapropsfun

I’m excited to announce the next Yoga Blend clas

I’m excited to announce the next Yoga Blend class series in my virtual studio.

Every 6 weeks (give or take) I teach a 4-part Yoga Blend class series. Each series explores a theme and blends disciplines outside of yoga asana.

This next series is with minimal props (I know, so unlike me! But actually you can bring any props you like to use. I’ll be giving you super specific ideas about one prop, though.)

ONE PROP, MANY POSSIBILITIES, Tuesdays 12-1p EST

Oct 20th - You and a Block

Oct 27th - You and a Blanket

Nov. 3rd - You and a Wall (on Election Day! How fitting...😆)

Nov. 10th - You and the Floor

And yes, I’m counting the wall and floor as props. You’ll see why.

Each class in the series offers both generous space for movement and discovery, with the backbone of a carefully curated curriculum and plenty of context around the body science “why” for certain choices and who, specifically, might benefit from them.

Available through membership or drop-in. Links in bio.

#virtualstudio #multidisciplinarymovement

Mustardseed’s jealous (sound on for extra effect

Mustardseed’s jealous (sound on for extra effect 🎶 and yes I had a little bit of fun editing this video 😛)
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This is where we’re headed tomorrow in Kettlebell Gym. Quads and hip flexors standby.
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Wanna come? There are two ways to take class — membership ($40/mo cancel anytime) or drop in ($15 + 7-day replay).
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links in bio 👀
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🎶 Baby I’m Jealous, Bebe Rexha
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#kettlebellworkout #kettlebellgym #kettlebellflow #virtualstudio #multidisciplinarymovement

I’m sending out a whole Kettlebell Gym class tom

I’m sending out a whole Kettlebell Gym class tomorrow to my list.
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The class is a recording from last week’s live class called Swing #2 (because it’s the second swing-themed class in the Kettlebell Gym section of my virtual studio with currently 18 full-length KB GYM classes.) It’s fully edited with box on screen visuals for dumbbell modifications so all you need is a dumbbell or a kettlebell.

This free class (coming atcha if you’re on my list) skill builds the kettlebell swing and then explores 3 circuits with a flow at the end —

👉 a swing/halo superset #supersweat

👉 a kettlebell complex involving goblet squats and two-handed kettlebell cleans

👉 a core-strengthening circuit for some serious cross-pattern strength, stability and control

🧁 the flow (aka the dessert) at the end puts together some stuff from the circuits and some new moves as well.

All you need is a kettlebell or a dumbbell. The class will be available for you to take all week.
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My newsletter is due out sometime tomorrow morning so don’t rest on your Laurels. 😉 I’m putting the finishing touches on it now! 📝
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Sign up for my list to get access to this class via the top link in my bio. 👀

#shipit #kettlebellgym #cardio #yogiswholift #kettlebellexercises #kettlebellswing #kettlebelltraining #kettlebellworkout

I’m not practicing asanas when I lift, but I’m

I’m not practicing asanas when I lift, but I’m often practicing yoga. And I’m not teaching yoga when I teach kettlebells, but I’m often sharing the life-changing stuff I learned from my yoga practice.
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Lifting weights might not be relaxing (it better not be! although it might leave you feeling more relaxed afterwards) but it can be a very internal practice of paying attention to how you feel and discerning, based on that, how to proceed. This is largely what I learned to do from my yoga practice.
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This was an excerpt from this past Thursday’s Kettlebell Gym class. What you’re seeing is the edited version where I include box on screen visuals to help you learn.
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I’m sharing some of the circuits from this class in a newsletter soon.
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Get on my list if you want them in your inbox. Link in bio. 👆

My latest article THE THREE SEEDS OF MOBILITY: Goi

My latest article THE THREE SEEDS OF MOBILITY: Going Beyond the Binaries to Improve Range of Motion is ready to read on the @shutupandyoga blog. Top link in bio 👆
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#repost @shutupandyoga
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🙋‍♀️ How would you describe your mobility? Perhaps as the depth of your forward bend in Paschimottanasana, or whether or not you can do frog pose. The word mobility has been used in a lot of different ways, often loosely without a clear definition to distinguish it from flexibility.
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🤓 For the purpose of this article, I’d like to expand our definition of mobility to include this more layered idea:
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🦵 Mobility is the ability to explore end range positions without limitations in flexibility, strength, or coordination. Another way to think of it is that movement that displays mobility (over flexibility) displays a skillful balance of flexibility, strength, and coordination.
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🌱 I like to think of these three sub-components of mobility—strength, coordination, and flexibility—as “seed” abilities.
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🐪 Let’s deconstruct mobility further by taking a closer look at these three seeds in context using the pose Ustrasana, or Camel, as an example. Specifically, we’ll look at the shoulder mobility required for this pose.
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👉 Read more in The Three Seeds of Mobility. Part I: Going Beyond the Binaries to Improve Range of Motion by @laurelbeversdorf ✨LINK IN BIO✨
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✍️ Edited by @scientist_yogini and @jordanparkerreed
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👩‍🎨 Illustration by @ksenia_sapunkova
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#mobility #yogateacher #functionalmovement #modernyoga #yogateachertraining #functionalyoga #rangeofmotion

For the record and if you missed it, Kamala won an

For the record and if you missed it, Kamala won and the fly took second.

Make your plan to vote! Polls open a week early in New York City. I’ll be there Oct. 30th.

#vote

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