Don’t have time for a full hour of yoga? You probably need to slow it down a bit;) Nah, we all have those days; so here by popular demand, a thirty-minute all-levels Ashtanga sequence with Adi, focused on blissful balancing and backbends. Enjoy the wildflowers and keep the requests coming!

Thanks to all of the support for the new website, we are back outdoors producing new classes! Try this 30-minute Kundalini sequence with Sarah to oxygenate your blood, build internal heat and cleanse the lens of the mind. Set in the stunning Grand Teton National Park, it’s as Karmic as it gets:)

Treat yourself to a long weekend of yoga August 20-23, 2009. Having done retreats internationally, I am convinced that the valley of Jackson Hole is one of the best places to explore your inner nature. Our days will be spent immersing ourselves in Anusara Yoga® in the spectacular scenery of the Tetons!

We will be staying in the beautiful Teton Mountain Lodge, luxury accommodation just steps away from Grand Teton National Park and one hour south of Yellowstone National Park. Yoga sessions will be held in their lovely studio and outdoors on the adjoining deck as weather permits. Free time will be open to hiking, riding the aerial tram, fishing, horseback riding, mountain climbing, river rafting or simply enjoying the solitude of a quiet mountain lake. All participants will be entitled to a 20% discount on treatments at the Solitude Spa. I look forward to meeting many of you and sharing the sights and amazing energy of Jackson this summer!

For more information, or to register, visit Akasha Yoga.

Spring has sprung in Jackson Hole and along with a brand spanking new website, we’re back outdoors to bring you 20 minute power workouts, one-on-one with the instructors! In this week’s class Neesha invites you to move beyond your perceived limitations and find something more in an Anusara sequence for intermediate yogis.

In this breathing meditation we will observe the space between two breaths and relate it to the space between two thoughts to find simple stillness. Tim Miller was kind enough to share this breathing practice with Adi, which incorporates ujjayi pranayama (victorious breath) as well as three rounds of retention on an exhalation (rechaka kumbhaka,) and three rounds of retention on an inhalation (puraka kumbhaka.)

Proper alignment in yoga postures takes both flexibility and strength. This short sequence with Sarah is designed to increase bone density, strengthen your heart and tone your muscles.

Feeling a bit of a funk? Try this quick pick-me-up sequence with Neesha for a burst of circulation and O2~ you’ll love it!

Bakasana, or “crow/crane” pose is a great way to tone your abdominals, strengthen your wrists and arms, and stretch your upper back and groin. Plus, when you nail the pose, you can’t help but feel a burst of empowerment from your inner yoga ninja! Try out these quick tips from Adi for blissful balancing in Bakasana.

If this is your first attempt, we admit, the pose can seem daunting. Keep your feet on the floor and try lifting one at a time. This may be your move for weeks/months and that’s fine. With enough diligence and practice, you’ll get it! Worried about face plants? Realize that in the beginning, everything takes a little faith… and setting up a pillow crash pad has never hurt anyone. We’re pretty sure novice ninjas use the same technique!

Yoga teachers mention “bandhas” all the time in class, but how many of us truly understand what they are and how to incorporate them into our practice? Bandha is the Sanskrit word for lock, or seal. In yoga, these locks assist us in our asana and pranayama practices to help tone, energize and cleanse our body and organs. Done properly, they ensure better alignment in postures, protecting us from strain and injury.

In this session, Sarah breaks down the three specific interior body locks: Mula Bandha (Root Lock,) Uddiyana Bandha (Naval or Abdominal Lock,) and Jalandara Banda (Throat Lock.) Activating all three at once is referred to as Maha Bandha, or the great lock. Enjoy!

Neesha offers a few tips for healthy air travel and demonstrates exercises that can be done while in your seat to ensure you’re calm and refreshed when you arrive at your final destination! Be sure to download this video to have ready on your laptop or iPod for your next flight:)