Bikram Yoga Countdown; Day 2

Ardha-Matsyendrasana

Spine Twist

The Artist as a Young Man

No yoga sequence is complete without a good old spine twist at the end!

For the spine to twist effectively, it has to be straight. Pressing your back hand into the mat, use your arm as a “second spine” to get more length. Both sitbones need to connect with the earth. Each posture has a primary focus and a byproduct – beyond the twist (the primary focus), notice the beautiful stretch along the outer thigh (byproduct), releasing tension from the ITB. Pull both of your shoulders away from the neck, puffing your chest open at the same time. Using your breath, lengthen on the inhale, twist deeper on the exhale. Twist from the belly button as opposed to the lower back. A sacrum-based twist places too much strain on the Sacro-Illiac Joint. Twisting happens mostly in the Thoracic Spine. This is a great detox posture – wring out your internal organs … Woohoo! Amazing what yogis get excited about.