Ardha: half
Chandra: Moon
Pose resembles the shape of a half moon
Ardha Chandrasana helps to open and align all parts of the body. The pose requires balance, focus, strength and flexibility through the legs, core and across the chest. The hips and legs are strengthened, the hamstrings are stretched and the arms extend away from the body creating opening through the shoulders and arms.
One can enter the pose moving from Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), by softening into the front knee and placing the bottom fingers on the floor outside the pinkie-toe side of the foot. Once stable, raise the back leg off of the floor and stretch the top arm so the finger tips reach towards the ceiling. Keep the lifted leg engaged and the foot flexed. Rotate the chest and the lifted leg until the hips are stacked. Feel all four limbs radiating out from the core. Hold for 5-10 breaths.
A bit about Sarah:
For as long as she can remember, Sarah has explored various means of physical expression ranging from the rigor of competitive gymnastics to the playfulness of hiking and swimming in nature. Her first introduction to yoga came during college when Sarah visited home and joined her mother’s community yoga class. These classes planted the seed for a holistic approach to physical exploration, connected with mental awareness and community building. Sarah took the passion for yoga beyond her personal practice and completed the Yoga Tree Teacher Training program in 2007. Sarah now teaches as a part of the caring team with the Art of Yoga Project, integrating yoga and creative art for young women in the juvenal detention system. She finds her calling working with youth and adults to address health concerns through nutrition, physical movement and meditation practices. In her playful classes, Sarah works to build a strong community, a place where all individuals can explore their personal strengths while softening into mental stillness. Sarah remains a lifelong student of yoga and gives thanks to her teachers for continued guidance: Darren Main, Elise Lorimer, Les Leventhal, Courtney Woodrow, Mary Lynn Fitton, Kari Zabel and so many more.
Sarah teaches Gentle Flow on Wed from 4:45-5:45PM!
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A big thank you to all instructors who attended the hOM Potluck!! It was a great time consisting of family, friendship and food :) We look forward to many more events like this in 2009 and thank you all for your continued love and support!
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VAHNI or SACRED FIREOther interpretations are the fire of digestion and the conveyor of offerings to the divine, in the form of fire.
A Karana, or moving prelude to asana, from the Shadow Yoga tradition.
This sequence gets the digestion moving, building that inner fire in the core. It also strengthens your legs, and improves balance and concentration.
It also stimulates the Muladara, or root chakra, connecting you to the earth as it energizes Kundalini energy up the susumna nadi, preparing the body for practice.
Stand with feet a little wider than hip width. Inhale the arms out at shoulder height. Exhale and step your left foot behind the right, with all toes facing front; in the same exhale,
cross your right elbow over the left and wind into Garundasana bind, with the palms coming together.
Inhale and feel your feet rooting into the earth as you send the elbows forward and up to shoulder height, dropping your shoulder blades down the back.
Exhale and start to bend both knees, coming as far down as is comfortable. The right foot stays firmly rooted, as the left knee tucks behind and to the right of the right. The left heel is lifted as you
press into the balls of the left toes.
Keep your spine erect, with your tail bone and sacrum dropping plumb to the floor. If you start to tip forward unbend you knees until your spine can be straight. If you have the
space to descend down, rest your perineum on the lifted left heel. Keep a soft gaze and take 10 deep Ujayii breaths, breathing the length of your spine.
Inhale to press into your feet and rise straight up, unwinding the arms to bring them up and out to the sides, also uncrossing the legs. Exhale and cross into the other side, taking your left
elbow over the right and into the bind. Inhale and then exhale your way down. Ten breaths and come up on an inhale to unwind.
About David:
Yoga found David 13 years ago in New York City. He practiced mostly within the Jivamukti tradition, becoming interested in the ancient sources of Hatha yoga.
He moved to San Francisco in 2002, and after a 4 year lull without a practice, he reconnected and dove back in for good. He completed the Yoga Tree teacher training in 2007,
rounding out his education with focus on Vinyasa, Iyengar, and restorative practice.
David is now concentrating his education with Scott Blossom and Shadow Yoga, codified by Zander Remete.
Besides his certification with the Yoga Alliance, he has a certificate from Judith Hanson Laseter to teach Relax and Renew restorative yoga.
David would like to acknowledge his teachers: Darren Main, Elise Lorimer, Scott Blossom, Judith Laseter, Chris Thompkins and Lauren Slater.
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Join us on FEBRUARY 7, 2009 from 1:30 to 3PM for a great post holiday workshop!!
KICK THE SUGAR HABIT!!
Join STACEY MORGENSTERN, Nutrition Expert, Yoga Teacher and Founder of www.fivepointwellness.com for a fun and innovating class on why we start sugar cravings and cannot stop...what your cravings really mean...what happens when you put sugar in your body...12 tips for dealing with a sugar attack!!!
COST: $35 which includes 1 FREE WEEK OF YOGA!!!
Call 415-674-9853 or email info@homyogasf.com to register!!!!
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We have recently made a change to the schedule and added back in the 12PM LUNCHTIME COMMUNITY CLASS for $10!! This is taught by Julia Chandler and sure to be enjoyed by all. Come in for a great class at a great drop in rate :)
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