The first time my four-year-old son Matteo saw me inYoganidrasana (Yogic Sleep Pose) he said, "Mama, that's crazy!" I have to agree with him; this pretzel-like pose can look a bit extreme at first. But once you're able to get into the pose safely, you'll find that the experience is anything but crazy. In fact, the shape of Yoganidrasana—a deep forward bend with the limbs drawn in close to the torso—stimulatespratyahara, or the deep state of peaceful relaxation that comes from withdrawing the senses.
Review of Nicki Doane's Ashtanga Yoga Videos and DVDs by Richard Rosen of Yoga Journal Magazine. Both DVDs are available through www.gaiam.com.
Instead of greeting each other with a kiss, the traditional Hawaiian welcoming and parting gesture consists of pressing one's nose close against another's to exchange sacred breath. In fact, the Hawaiian sound "ha"--the root of aloha--literally means "full of breath." This idea of filling yourself with breath, or as yogis call it prana, is just one of the many similarities that make practicing yoga in the Aloha State a natural fit.
If the practice of hatha yoga was meant to heal, why are so many yogis getting hurt?
The subject of continual debate, adjustments run the gamut from the helpful to hurtful. As you determine the role that adjustments play in your teaching style, consider suggestions and examples from some of yoga's master teachers.
