[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldWN8wlNlSE]
So it was a gorgeous day in Santa Monica today, and I decided to shoot a few quick yoga tutorials for some common issues in form and alignment for a few common poses. There are a bunch more!
Hope this helps you in your practice. PS- The next few videos are easy movements anyone can do at home- whether you have an existing yoga practice or not!
After a soothing session of yoga, I sometimes utilize my sweet potato shepherds pie recipe and make it the day before to enjoy the next day.
Shanti and Love, Kimberly
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYp5GCfAY6Y]
Hi Kim! Love the tutorials! I must say, I really want to like yoga, but I just don’t. Every time I have ever tried I feel like a failure…I can’t hold any pose for any length of time and find myself being more frustrated then zen. And, I have never had a yoga instructor correct me on my posture. Perhaps I’m just doing it wrong? Maybe I’ll give it another shot someday…I really wish it was a calming experience for me like it seems to be for other people. Anywho, nice tutorials! There were subtle things that I was able to correct, like the shoulders touching the ears…I always do that. Will try again! Thanks!
Hi Melanie!
Hope all is well with you!! Remember that the poses aren’t the most important thing- the way you are breathing is, and your focus and state of mind. It is important to notice those feelings and frustrations rising up, and then try to disconnect yourself from them. You are not that.
These tutorials are to help with little physical tweaks- but again, the poses are just a small part of yoga. I recommend finding a studio you really connect with- hopefully there are some good ones in Texas where you live. What might be the yoga practice you really need right now is to sit quietly, breathe, and quiet your thoughts! Only when we are quiet can our real self “talk.”
Shanti, Kimberly
Wow, your second video was surprisingly helpful! The only thing is that the sound is kind of shoddy at times, but otherwise, great job! You’re a total yogi master. :)
Ha!! “Surprisingly” helpful, huh?! :) I’m surprised you are so surprised! :)
Thanks for the visit and come again!
xx Kimberly
Thanks Kim for your new post!
Is there any limints when you should not do yoga?
Another thing regarding green smoothies…
I drink a big glass of pure water (sometimes with melon) when I wake up. I eat my green smoothie after half an hour when I have woken up. Especially I love the taste of my green smoothie when I add 1 teaspoon spirulina powder in it. I was just wundering is it a good idea to add spirulina in my morning green smoothies? Can you use spirulina powder daily 1 teaspoon or should I use it less frequently?
Hey Mya- Try to have the Green Smoothie when you really start to get hungry. Especially in the morning time, we never want to eat “just to eat.” Be sure your body tells you it needs food! If you like the taste of the spirulina and it helps you stay on the plan, and your body does well with it you should be fine- though nutritionally, with all the fresh raw greens it is not really necessary.
xx Kimberly
Thanks Kim!
I’ m always hungry in the morning so I’m already waiting a good healthy breakfast. :)
First I started to add spirulina in my diet because of iodine. I don’t eat table salt at all and have noticed that I probably don’t get enough iodine without seaweeds. I have falling love with the taste of different kind of seaweeds. I usually eat nori or wakame in my lunch or dinner (not everyday) and spirulina daily in my green smoothie.
What is a good amounth of omega-3 in your daily diet if you are vegan?
Hi Kim!
Where can I get vitamin B12 on a vegan raw food diet? I thought spirulina was a good source of B12. Any other suggestions?
Pia
HI Pia,
This is a very important topic. Thanks for reminding me- I will do a whole blog on this in the next week or so.
Stay tuned! xx Kimberly
I’ve been practicing yoga for about 5 years, and I learned something from these quick videos! Great! Thanks, Kimberly! Can’t wait for your DVD
Hi Kim!
I have a question about the timing of meals. I’ve been having lemon water in the morning, usually followed by a grapefruit. Sometimes I’ll have the green smoothie. But sometimes…I feel like something warm…so I will have some steamed veggies with some avocado. And then have the green smoothie for lunch or dinner. Is it OK to do this…or is it best to have the green smoothie for breakfast?
That is okay as long as you wait at least 2 1/2 hours between your steamed veggies/avocado, then Green Smoothie for lunch. :)
Cool! Thank you so much! Do you have any blogs written on the timing of meals and what not?
Good pointers, Kim. Always good to work those fundamentals, no matter where we are on our Yoga journey.
@ Melanie– Don’t give up on Yoga just yet. It took me several tries to find classes and a teacher who resonated. Once that teacher appeared in my life, the benefits were enormous! There are so many different styles of Yoga. Keep investigating and you will most likely find one that fits. Namaste! :-)
Thanks Bria! Nice coming from a fellow teacher. :)
Hi Kim! Your way of doing jumpbacks is the only way that has ever worked for me. I’ve seen the instruction to jump back into plank and then descend into Chaturanga both in classes and on yoga videos, and now I just modify to your method so as not to hurt myself… Btw, I can’t WAIT for your DVD to come out!
Melanie–I agree with Bria, it sounds like you might benefit from looking for a different studio, and if possible, do a beginner course series. I started studying yoga at an Anusara/Iyengar studio, and the teachers there were meticulous about alignment and props–all of which I think are very important for beginning students. They were also very good with corrections/adjustments.
As far as holding poses for a long time, don’t try! It will happen one day on its own. It did for me–when I first started out, I couldn’t stand on one foot, couldn’t spread my toes, couldn’t balance in the simplest poses… But if you fall out, it’s nobody’s loss :)
Hi Maria,
Yes! And just doing the 2 different ways, you can see how stopping in plank before lowering puts an incredible amount of pressure on your lower back! Coming down right away absorbs the blog.
Come visit me again soon!
xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for this post—I enjoyed it! I am really enjoying reading your blog everyday, and have tried many of the recipes! Great stuff :)
Lisa
@Kim, Bria, and Maria! Thanks ladies for all of your encouragement! I think I just need to get out of my own head for a bit and relax…and I will be looking for a new studio. Really looking forward to the DVD Kim! Good luck to everyone else on your yoga practice/journies! :-)