Friday Favorites

I have many favorite yoga poses. Anything that opens my hips feels like heaven. But, my all time favorite pose is Halasana or Plow Pose. I seriously could stay in Halasana for the entire hour, but I doubt that would be recommended. :-) Inversions are very soothing and relaxing for me. These are poses where your heart is above your head, so you are basically upside down. Headstands, Shoulder Stands, Handstands, etc...

Photo borrowed from: Yoga Journal

I discovered yoga after my second marathon in 2006. During that training cycle, I started to feel pain down the side of my leg and knee. The first thing I thought - Iliotibial band syndrome. I just happened to stumble upon this cute little yoga studio in Rocky River, OH called Inner Bliss Yoga and decided to give it a try. In my first class, the instructor focused on hip opening poses. Long story short - I walked out of class with no pain in my leg or knee. I was amazed and really fell in love with the practice. Once I moved to the DC-area, I stopped going to yoga classes altogether. I lost so much flexibility training for the 50 mile race, that I have decided that I need to make yoga part of my routine again. I am aiming to go at least twice a week. I prefer a gentle-type of flow yoga, but may try Bikram. I hear that is a different beast though!