Mexican Yoga Blankets can be used for many different reasons:

• Fold the blanket to sit on to raise the hips in cross-legged positions or during seated forward folds.  Fold once, twice, or three times – depending on your personal needs that day.
• Folding or rolling lengthwise to place under your spine in supine positions.  This helps to open the chest & heart center when lying down.  Feels great.
• Lay the blanket open either underneath or on top of you in supine poses.  Cushions and warms so you can relax more deeply.

This video shows several different ways to fold a yoga blanket, which she’ll refer to in our upcoming videos showing specific restorative poses.

Enjoy the following two-minute video on clearing the 7th Chakra, the Crown Chakra:

Curls and Triceps Kickback & Extension

Curls

Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, hold a Soft Weighted Ball in each hand down to your sides.  Keeping upper arms tight to your sides, bend elbows and curl Soft Weighted balls up to chest height.  Lower Soft Weighted Balls slowly to start position.

Triceps Kickback

Start by placing left hand on top of Burst-Resistant Exercise Ball while holding Soft Weighted Ball in right hand.  With feet shoulder-width apart, bend knees slightly and distribute weight evenly between left hand and feet.  Keeping right elbow close to your side and upper arm parallel to the floor, press Soft Weighted Ball back until your arm is completely extended behind you.  Slowly bend elbow and repeat.  Alternate arms after one set.

Triceps Extension

Standing with feet shoulder-width apart hold the Soft Weighted Ball above your head with arms straight.  Bend elbows and lower Soft Weighted Ball slowly behind your head.  Straighten arms into starting position.  Repeat.

This information was provided by Natural Fitness, an eco-friendly yoga and fitness manufacturer.  We offer many Natural Fitness products, including these phthalate-free PVC products, hemp yoga straps, and more.

We carry two kinds of Pilates Rings: The Pilates Fitness Circle Pro by JFit and the Pilates Toning Ring with Cushioned Grips by Hugger Mugger.  In the video, she uses the cushions on the inside of the ring quite a bit, so the Toning Ring by Hugger Mugger might be more comfortable for you if you find you like those types of exercises.

Yoga props can be used in many ways – to provide support and stability or to enhance a stretch in some poses. Yoga blocks, for instance, can be used to bring the floor closer to you in a standing pose, so you can focus on the proper alignment and still have stability in your pose. A yoga block can also be placed under your hip in Half Reclining Hero Pose to intensify the stretch in your quadricep. But yoga props are really fantastic in Restorative Poses because they help comfort and support you in any posture so that you can totally surrender into a pose for a longer period of time.

So, take two minutes to watch this video (and join us again in the upcoming weeks) to start getting ideas on how to use yoga props in some nice relaxation poses.

Enjoy this short two-minute video on clearing the third eye Chakra:

General Instructions

• As with any exercise product or program, consult your physician before beginning.
• Be sure to warm up before each exercise.
• Follow the instructions.
• Keep your abdominal muscles contracted and maintain good posture at all times.
• Breathe normally during the entire exercise.
• Perform your exercise program slowly and increase the pace gradually.
• Try to perform each exercise 8 to 12 times.
• CAUTION: If you feel any pain, stop exercising and consult your physician.

Click to Enlarge or Print

We mentioned in prior posts that we sell Stability Exercise Balls – regular stability balls, anti-burst or burst-resistant balls, and even eco-friendly stability balls.  We hope you’ll visit our online store if you need to purchase an exercise ball.

Enjoy the challenge!

Foam Roller Fun — Posted By Kelley Ranaudo On May 28, 2008
from PilatesDigest.com

Are you incorporating the foam roller into your Pilates exercise routine? We sell them to our clients all the time and they love using them at home. There are so many exciting and challenging options with the roller. It is a great addition to a group class, private session or home routine. Balancing can be difficult because of the small surface area, but the foam roller also helps with modifications for certain exercises, stretching and therapeutic work. Try some of my favorites to change up your routines:

Toe Taps/Knee Lifts Bring legs to table-top and hands to the side. Alternate reaching each foot to the floor and returning to table-top, while maintaining stabilization in your torso, pelvis and lower back.
Ab Prep Lying on your back, inhale to prepare. Exhale, lift your head and chest, reaching your hands to the opposite wall, and scooping your deep abdominals as you lift. Inhale, stay and intensify the scoop and exhale to lower.
Single Arm Balance Alternate arms while both feet are table-top. Another option is to alternate reaching one or both arms off the floor while one leg is table-top and one foot is touching the floor.
Swan Place your forearms on the roller with feet apart and laterally rotated. Lift your head, chest and abdominals into the Swan as the roller moves toward you. Feel the energy reach out of your toes and head. Keep your abdominals engaged to support your lower back. You should not feel discomfort in your back. Stabilize your shoulder blades and keep the muscles surrounding your rib cage engaged.
Side Forearm Plank Start on your forearm on your side with the roller under the outside of your lower leg. Hold the plank first lifting in your side closest to the floor, keeping your hips stacked. Once you feel stable, try to lift the top leg and hold. Try this position on the floor without the roller first.
Scissors Begin with your feet extended directly toward the ceiling. Inhale to prepare, and exhale open the legs to a scissor position, keeping the lumbo-pelvis region stable and reaching the energy out of the toes. Inhale to bring the legs together, and exhale to control the scissor motion in the opposite direction.

This is a nice combination of balance, strength and stretch to give your clients that are ready for something new. Have fun and keep your Pilates principles in mind throughout each exercise.

Enjoy the following two-minute long video on clearing the 5th Chakra, the Throat Chakra: