Yoga Integration With Taiji

Beautiful.

Today’s class was a level 1 Power class. However, the moves are most graceful when the teacher integrates some taiji moves into yoga. A test of core muscles when you move ( or try to… ) gracefully or flow into the next pose. One obvious taiji move was the following :

1. Go into a squat where your thighs are parallel to the floor. ( yes this will build some strength into your quads )

2. Then swing right arm over head and the left up lower as your body move to the left side. repeat for the other side. Do this for a few sets.

2. Next you swing the same ways for your arms, right arm over head, left arm lower but now together with your left leg to bend down into a squat. Your right leg however will move to a straight leg. Repeat to the other side. Again do this for a few sets. Having nice music to go with the flow is lovely!

3. Next up, swing your way to the left side into a warrior 1 instead. ( baby backbend here if you want – inhale when you go into pose ). Exhale and squat back to your left leg with the right leg out. Then move towards the right side and go into warrior 1 on the other side. Repeat a few sets.

4. To up the intensity, now instead of having the warrior 1 arms, as you swing to the warrior 1 pose, begin to cross your arms in garudasana style and then go into warrior 1 with the cross arms. Repeat for a few sets.

5. You can further add on variations like from warrior 1 go into warrior 3 before flowing back into warrior 1 and then back to the swing.

I like the flow and you really must engage the core mucles strongly to balance your self throughout the sequence. And have no doubt that your quads will be much toned!

om~

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