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When I come home the first thing I hear is my cat. She runs up to me – sometimes stretching from her nap, sometimes poking her head around the door – and she makes squeaking sounds. It makes me feel so welcomed. It’s comforting to know I can depend on someone wanting to see me. I think that feeling welcomed, coming home and feeling wanted and belonging, is something that most of us hope for in life. Not e

When I first started yoga, I took fast-paced, workout-focused flow classes. It was great for my fitness, but not for my form. I rushed through the poses and didn’t pay much attention to my technique. Without realizing it, this lack of attention led to painful injuries. I had created bad habits, which would later become difficult to fix. Yoga is effective at alleviating pain, healing your body, improving flexibility a

K SAGE 1(eka pada koundinyasana 1) SHAPE POSE(from two leg k sage, elbows bent)Extend top leg straight back; point kneecap out—parallel to long edge of mat (more difficult: straighten left arm).Flex feet (more difficult: point feet). SAFETY PREPGrip floor with fingertips, press inner edges of hands down.Lift shoulders.Tone abdomen. REFINEMENT POSEPress hands down. Repeat on the second side. Like many poses, k sage 1

I was told to meditate to lose weight, advance my career and to become less anxious. After meditating for about a year, I became a great meditator. However, I didn’t lose a single pound, my business declined and my life became more chaotic. As a result, I was even more stressed, resentful and bitter than before I started meditating. Of course, meditation can be a powerful way to improve health – there’s l

REVOLVED HEAD KNEE POSE (parivrtta janu sirsasana) SHAPE PREP (from head knee right) Place right forearm on floor inside right shin, hold inner edge of foot with right hand; outer edge with left hand (more doable: place right hand or elbow inside right knee; bring left arm across face or hold top of foot with hand). SHAPE POSE Twist torso, lift left elbow vertical. Look up (more difficult: place back of head on shin)

STAR (tarasana) SHAPE PREP (from bound angle) Slide feet 1.5 feet forward; separate feet 6 inches. SHAPE POSE Hold tops of feet with hands, place forehead on floor between feet. Point elbows out. Round back evenly. SAFETY PREP Press outer edges of feet down, lift ankles up. Squeeze feet toward hips. Tone low belly. REFINEMENT PREP Lift chest, stretch spine. REFINEMENT POSE Stretch shoulders towards head.

FIRE LOGS (agnistambhasana) SHAPE PREP (from staff) Stack shins—right ankle on left knee; flex feet (more doable: slide bottom heel to right hip). Place hands next to hips; curve low back in. SHAPE POSE Stay here or fold forward, place hands on floor like in down dog. Rest forehead on floor. Round back evenly. SAFETY PREP Press outer edges of feet down, lift ankles up, and squeeze heels toward hips. SAFETY POSE Tone

EVERY TIME I GOLF without stretching, I play at least five strokes worse. There’s good reason for that: In golf, every detail matters. If your form is slightly off, it can make the difference between an enjoyable day on the course and a long, frustrating one. To get an edge on the course both mentally and physically, try these yoga poses before taking your first swing: 1. Standing Shoulder Stretch Why: Golf inv

GARLAND 2 (malasana 2) SHAPE PREP (from mountain) Bend knees slightly. Widen knees slightly wider than hips. Fold forward, hold backs of heels with hands, bring armpits to shins just below knees. Stay here or lower hips to heels. SHAPE POSE Stay here or lean forward, place forehead on floor (more difficult: forehead to big toes). Round back evenly. SAFETY POSE Press inner edges of feet down, ankles in, grip floor wit

“DO NOT OVERTHINK YOUR poses.” That’s advice I heard early in my yoga practice – and I shouldn’t have listened. I wound up hurting my shoulder and lower back, and my downward dog felt more like a downward spiral toward painful injuries. As I learned the hard way, thinking about your yoga poses is important. If you’re not, you’re probably doing these common poses wrong: 1. Chatturon