12 July Ray Child July 12, 2012 How to Really Advance Your Practice Body, Hot Yoga, Yoga advance your practice, advanced postures, breathe, dallas hot yoga, focus 0 Comment As yoga teachers, we sometimes hear students categorize themselves and others as “beginner” or “advanced.” It is interesting to hear people talk this way because they usually base the label on the number of classes attended, length of time they’ve practiced, or whether they can do certain postures. The fact is that everyone is advancing--it just looks different for each individual. Everyone has room to advance their practice, and there are tons of ways to do it! Focus on small things like: Maintaining steady, six-second inhales and exhales throughout class Branching out into a new class series Deepening one particular posture. Ask your teacher to help you with it! We love that :-) Pushing yourself, within a safe range of motion for you, to deepen in a posture past your usual stopping point (like Half Moon) Taking a private lesson Using your exhales to soften and deepen into postures if you are less flexible The above pointers focus on the physical part of yoga, but there are many other ways to deepen your practice by extending beyond the physical and working on a deeper mind & life focus. For example: Come to class focused and listen with an open mind Stay mentally engaged throughout class Take a step back and nurture yourself when you need to Focus on your own body for the entire class- really look at yourself in the mirror Be completely still in Savasana; resist the urge to wipe sweat or adjust your clothing Be still and return to your breath between postures Set an intention at the beginning of your class and return to it throughout class Attend a workshop or a special class Take your yoga off the mat. Use your deep breathing when you are faced with stressful situations outside the studio Remember that being able to do Standing Splits does not an advanced yogi make. Define your own version of “advanced” and keep working at deepening, strengthening, and improving. In life, and in yoga, there is always room to advance. Related Articles Be Engaged Throughout Your Class Last week, we introduced Sunstone’s vision as well as the Five Teaching Principles that guide our teachers in helping our students cultivate their very best selves. These principles are our core values, the foundation on which we've built our studios. They are equally valuable for you, our students. They create the landscape for what your experience with us can be like. Whether you're in your second class, or well on your way to building a body, mind, and life practice, these words describe behaviors that can turn what seems to be the simple action of taking a yoga class into something truly life-changing. Top 5 Excuses for Skipping Practice Hot yoga can be tough. Dallas hot yoga can be tougher, given the heat outside. Here at Sunstone, our groundbreaking series of options can help you adjust to your body’s needs from workout to workout – but first, you’ve got to get in the studio. Set Your Intention — Focus Wristbands as Guides What does that colorful piece of plastic on your wrist mean to you? These days, everyone — from politicians to tweens — seems to sport a wristband as a simple reminder of something meaningful to them, whether a way of living, memorial to a friend, or a special occasion. At Sunstone, we acknowledge certain steps along your hot yoga journey with colorful Focus Wristbands to remind you of your focus for that point in your practice. Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class If you’ve been thinking about getting into shape, you may have considered taking a yoga class. Yoga can be a great way to either get in shape or maintain your level of fitness. It builds strength and flexibility while simultaneously allowing you to focus on your breathing. By practicing yoga, you learn how to control your breathing, even during some rather challenging poses. This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: Why You Should Invest in Coaching in 2020 Consider a few questions: Healthy Holiday Eating: How to Enjoy Your Holiday and Stay on Track Comments are closed.