Yoga: The Secret To All Of Yoga Core Strength And Control - Shana Meyerson YOGAthletica

[@YOGAthletica]

When you are ready to level up your practice, do my FULL-LENGTH classes to build strength, balance and flexibility to change your whole yoga game! www.union.fit/orgs/yogathletica/videos

[@emilynaifeh1955]

Wait! Wow this cue for handstand is EVERYTHING. Thank you! It makes so much more sense to me now.

[@YOGAthletica]

game changer, right? 🤸🏻‍♂ you may want to check out my union.fit channel of full-length classes if you really want to take your entire practice to the next level ❣ www.union.fit/orgs/yogathletica/videos

[@emilynaifeh1955]

@@YOGAthletica thank you!!

[@qiuforster3370]

Shana, may I just say - THANK YOU. for being real, for saying it as it is, for giving tips that actually help. So many videos out there of yoga teachers show the yoga teachers off. They show us how to do a pose by...doing the pose (duh if we could do that we wouldn't be searching for it). Or they wear make up, look pretty and bat their eye lashes and smile. Which is all very entertaining but doesn't help those learning. You do. You keep it real, you have super hero socks, you really want to share. Awesome. Thank you :)

[@YOGAthletica]

yes, you may say it. and thank you back for this awesome comment. at first you just REALLY made me smile. then the sock thing made me laugh out loud. :D keeping it real. thanks! big love!

[@jphillip7948]

very true

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you so much! my intention is to "show how" instead of "show off". enjoy! :D

[@lenoremeyerson6681]

You make your messages so clear!! The core is the magic 😊! Yes!!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

No matter what the question……the answer is core! 😅

[@Brainhoneywalker]

You, Dear Soul, are a low flying yoga angel. Thank you for this!!

[@YOGAthletica]

That brings tears to my eyes! Thank you! 🙏😭🙏

[@annieparker6728]

Thank you SO much Shana! I've been practicing yoga for years and this is the first time I've ever got my heels off the wall at the same time! Using your tip I also jumped with both leg into handstand for the first time! Thanks for your inspirational videos:)

[@YOGAthletica]

+Annie Parker that is so terrific! i am excited for you!!! congratulations and i am SO happy the videos help!

[@jenelld]

You’re a fabulous teacher. You break everything down so perfectly that I can understand the important components of each pose. Thank you!

[@YOGAthletica]

Thank you so much!!! 💗🙏

[@navjyothora4034]

You completely changed my perception of handstands, the ego concept so much touched my heart

[@YOGAthletica]

I am so happy to hear that. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏

[@frazzledazzleization]

Your tips are helping me so much in advanced pilates!!

[@YOGAthletica]

amazing to hear! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ you may want to consider my vimeo channel of full-length classes if you really want to revolutionize your practice! 🙏🙏 vimeo.com/ondemand/yogathletica

[@fionaedwards4262]

Shana I absolutely LOVE the way you teach!

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you so much! so glad my style resonates with you! :)

[@2010feifei]

Hi Shana, I want to let you know how much I like your videos. I think more teachers should teach the way you do by sharing the nuances of the real techniques and how to be aware of the refined details, and not just demonstrating the poses like most of the other people do. I think it shows how much effort and awareness you put into your own practice. Thanks a lot and keep up the great work!

[@SoulsongYoga]

OSSUM!!! Been teaching this for time and is so lush to see someone else singing from the same song sheet xxx thank you thank you thank you!

[@sheetalkassee2600]

I just found your channel and subscribed!! You are an awesome teacher!! Thanks for all the tips!!😊💕

[@YOGAthletica]

Yay! Great to hear! Thanks! ❤️

[@My.Cup.of.Stars_Meditates]

Thank you Shana for this❤️

[@YOGAthletica]

you are so very welcome! glad it helps! ❤️❤️

[@eclipst85]

I've never really thought about chaturanga and hand stand being essentially the same as just standing. It's so simple and makes so much sense! Loved this video and the explanation! Thank you!

[@YOGAthletica]

+Katrina Smith so many yoga poses turned upside down or sideways become another yoga pose! :) glad you enjoyed the video!

[@drkilstein]

This IS the secret of all yoga asana. Great video. One of your best.

[@user-iu3cy2tx3c]

Hi Shana :) I love your quirky personality and unique way of breaking down and working up to poses! As a yoga teacher, I am ALWAYS looking for new ways to explain things, and videos on You Tube can get a little repetitive, but yours are really helping my practice and my teaching! Where did you do your training(s)?

[@My.Cup.of.Stars_Meditates]

This is such an important factor... My body kind of got that in chaturanga, but this is going to do miracles for my handstand practice!!! Thank you Shana😘🙏

[@YOGAthletica]

I look forward to seeing the miracles unfold! 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@19ainos]

Thanks Shana! very clear, simple.Your instructions help into my practice. Now, I feel more stable, all is more easy!!

[@YosoyMouth]

Wow this is so helpful! Thank you Shana, I hope to see more videos from you!

[@YOGAthletica]

you're welcome! and i've got about 40 vids on my channel now (kzbin.info)! hope it keeps you busy for a little while. i shoot a new one about every three weeks. :)

[@JorgeRamos-xw6dy]

Awesome core strength explanation. I've been trying to strengthen my core and seen many videos but this video has the best explanation by far. Thank for sharing your knowledge.

[@YOGAthletica]

Jorge Ramos yay! So glad to hear!!! You may want to check out my sequel and prequel to this to refine it even more! 💗

[@aschoenb1]

Shana this video was SO HELPFUL!!!!!!!!! I am a rock climber and for years instructors have been trying to explain to me what "use your core" means, and I just never got it until I saw this!!! Thanks for telling us to watch it!!! --abby/other abby/the abby who can't stop smiling during ab challenge :)

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks, smiley abby! :D

[@GoMeatless]

Seen a few of your videos and your words and suggestions really connect with me. Thanks! Like the Ego says take the other foot off the wall. I've been there. Will be trying all your suggestions. Keep the videos coming.

[@SashaIlic222]

Amazing! Thanks! Not just the demonstration but you said about ego. I've been practicing for the last couple of years and get so frustrated that I can't do bakasana. Your insight has been helpful cause I see that I have been just rushing this entire time to lift off because of ego. I appreciate your vid!

[@YOGAthletica]

hi Cherry Darling...so glad you got something deeper out of this. ego is everything...let go of it and everything else reall flows. :)

[@sarojiniramkumar589]

I am doing core strength. Thanks 🙏 for your video. You are amazing teacher.

[@YOGAthletica]

awesome to hear! ☺️ thank you! 🙏

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks, teressa. i did trainings with sri dharma mittra and mark blanchard, but, honestly, most of what i teach is self-taught and self-discovered. i like to play around! :)

[@jodibeck858]

Thank you so much Shana, this video has helped so very much, how kind of you to take time to share your knowledge and enthusiasm for yoga! 😍

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks, jodi! did you see my new sequel i posted friday? :)

[@marykate7082]

This is was super practical advice. I always have trouble engaging my core and I know my teachers have all given this advice, but I really appreciated your style of explaining it. Thanks!

[@YOGAthletica]

glad it helped, Mary Kate. i truly believe if you can master this action, it will revolutionize your whole practice! :)

[@marykate7082]

shana meyerson me too, I never realized how much I was over using my arms in chatturanga until today, I will be practiving this pelvic and rib action

[@YOGAthletica]

i also have a chatauranga video, too. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3S1ZKpnm8SKmqM

[@sarojiniramkumar589]

I can little bit kick up my legs over the wall. I think I get slowly picking up. Thanks Shana. I love ❤️ your support and your wishes. You make me a lot enjoying.thank you so much your love 💕🌹🌹🌹🙏😻🎁🧘‍♀️💗👌

[@YOGAthletica]

keep working, like I know you do!!!! you will get it! 🤗🤗

[@debabratadas8774]

Namaste Shana 🙏💐

[@YOGAthletica]

Namaste 🙏

[@cxiel8333]

handstanding is just standing upside down... i needed this!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

so glad it fit the bill! ;)

[@33Jenesis]

When I didn’t have core strength, I couldn’t pull and push up on a silk. I couldn’t do pike half wall hand stand. I couldn’t slowly with control lower myself to the floor from down dog or press up one piece into plank. I couldn’t do a whole lot of poses or sports activities well because I had no core. Now I am doing Pilates 3 times a week besides daily yoga practice. I get more control over my movements than before. It is amazing feeling to have a stronger core.

[@YOGAthletica]

no matter what the question, the answer is core! ;)

[@33Jenesis]

@@YOGAthletica no core no result! I was foolish enough to take adult gymnastics classes 3 years ago and was the only person in class couldn’t do most of the stuff. The teacher gently told me that I needed to work on core strength but I gave up after a month.....

[@YOGAthletica]

@@33Jenesis Oh! Well, no time like the present! Now look at you!

[@33Jenesis]

@@YOGAthletica so true, never too late to get in better shape! I didn’t quit that gymnastics classes because I was the oldest in class (51) but because I didn’t invest time to get core strength. Perhaps I’d go back to learn gymnastics after a couple more years of Pilates and yoga (and makes the teachers nervous having a potentially brittle senior in class😂). Thank you Shana for your teaching. Your channel should have more subscribers because you are almost like an iyengar teacher by going into detail about alignment and correct postures.

[@YOGAthletica]

Thanks! Tell a friend! 😉

[@reinjunon]

great video shana, that's the essence of core set or corset

[@YOGAthletica]

Junon Lim I love that!

[@lindyska]

THANK YOU so much for this video

[@YOGAthletica]

You’re welcome. Be sure to watch the sequel and prequel!

[@lindyska]

@@YOGAthletica i will!

[@vannaduong6836]

Shana!!!!! Thank you!!! I love this video. What a game changer - yoga practice changer - I can’t wait to try ribs in, pelvis up, crunch, head up, feet down! Yeahhhh!!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

vanna duong so glad to hear! Check out my two other “secret to all of yoga” videos: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/e53NgpijnbOFpKs m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3fbloOMh7eUq9U And you may want to check out my Vimeo channel of full length classes, too! :) vimeo.com/ondemand/yogathletica

[@ankitamitra2148]

Hello Shana, greetings from India. I can't stop admiring your going to the minute details in explaining the poses. Each of your videos makes a huge difference to my practices. Thank you so much. Can you please consider making a video on warrior 3 pose?

[@YOGAthletica]

Thank you so much, Ankita! I appreciate your comment! ❤️❤️ I will put Warrior Three on the list of videos to make!

[@ankitamitra2148]

@@YOGAthletica Thank you so much Shana.

[@unfilteredfungi]

In an blink of an eye you made my handstand from somewhat squishy to stable. Thanks for your advise❤

[@YOGAthletica]

amazing to hear! 🤸🏻‍♀️ thanks for sharing!

[@subhasischakrabarti4233]

watching it once more! So much to learn. thank you!

[@YOGAthletica]

+Subhasis Chakrabarti :D it is the secret to all of yoga afterall! ;)

[@akochc]

Love your energy and videos you explain so well!

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you so much, addy! :D

[@YOGAthletica]

that is all core! once the legs get low and the hips are no longer aligned above the shoulders, that is when the core needs to kick in like crazy. on the way down, think like a crunch. and simultaneously push down strongly on your hands to resist your body's energy upwards as well. my handstand to crow video is a good one for learning to come own in control. :)

[@ranyagb2755]

This is amazing! I just tried lifting both legs and I had a 3 second hang time

[@fumichiko]

This video helps my yoga practice a lot. Thanks!

[@yogaidentity909]

Dear Shana, you have explained this tutorial so well! I really like it. I have recently finished my YTT and I find your tutorials super!

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you so much! that is wonderful to hear!

[@arwabootwala2328]

This is so good to build a proper foundation..

[@YOGAthletica]

💗🙏💗🙏💗

[@sararad3141]

Thank you shana🤗🙇 i love your teaching😍💜

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks, sara! :D

[@dizilly]

This is wonderful. It has helped me soooo much. Thank you!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

so great, Diana Zilly! it helped me, too! ;)

[@oksanakoval]

Hi Shana, great video!! Thanks for breaking it down :) Good to hear from you! Oksana

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks so much for your comments! i am so glad you have been learning from my videos! :)

[@tira903]

GORGEOUS....thank you so much!!!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

Tira thank you! 💗

[@crazi29]

Great information again, thanks Shana! You're so pragmatic!

[@EnergyAndi]

Thank you so much🙏🙂!

[@YOGAthletica]

Hope it helps! 💗

[@EnergyAndi]

@@YOGAthletica definitely 😀! I really feel how this move helps to hold the asanas correctly ❤️

[@YOGAthletica]

😀

[@AMAETV]

Brilliant, my body has been just starting to figure this out, thanks!

[@YOGAthletica]

once your body figures this out, AMaeTV, it will know it forever. :)

[@lolavonvegan6770]

Thank you thank you... For the breakdown I never understood what the core was involved in shadaranga.. I'm going to class tonight I'm going to intergrade this. Once again thank u💓🙌🙌

[@YOGAthletica]

lola Von Vegan you will see a big difference if you use this all the time. 💗 🤗

[@YOGAthletica]

i need to do that! i do have a hip opening video, but have to do hamstrings and shoulders...and spine!

[@geetha5037]

That was so helpful, Shana!! Except, I tend to hold my breath when I do that. Need to work on it :) You are awesome :)

[@YOGAthletica]

Geetha Chakravarthy Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. The breath will come in time...as you become more comfortable with the process! :)

[@TheBridgeNuts]

You're right, I do love it. Thanks for the core anatomy lesson. My chaturangas and handstands will be corerific for now on.

[@YOGAthletica]

+TheBridgeNuts can't believe it took you almost four years to see this video. ;) it helps all the others!

[@TheBridgeNuts]

Hi +shana meyerson, I tend to work backwards. A result of being lefthanded :).

[@TheBridgeNuts]

...also, it's been 13 months since I started this beautiful journey and you came into my life just a short time ago. of coarse in yoga years, it's been a life time :)

[@YOGAthletica]

many lifetimes, in fact. ;)

[@TheBridgeNuts]

Aha +shana meyerson, I knew there was something familar about you. :)

[@YOGAthletica]

hang time! that's awesome! glad the video helped!

[@danharrell8479]

thanks Shana! I'm going to work on that 4-limbed staff exercise with my class today- the guys have a tendency to "arm strength" it, and a lot of the ladies "peel" up; this gives me a couple of nice pointers for getting them to use their postural muscles and not ligaments to hang there

[@YOGAthletica]

let me know how it goes, Dan Harrell! glad it helps!

[@danharrell8479]

Worked great! Don't you love it when you see that "lightbulb" expression on a face? Saw several today

[@YOGAthletica]

i live for the lightbulbs! that's the only tough thing about youtube...i can't see the lightbulbs!

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you! enjoy! they're fun for me. :)

[@mojganmirhadi9302]

Thank you soooòoo much. ....💚💛💜👌👌👌👌

[@YOGAthletica]

mojgan mirhadi you’re so welcome! 💗

[@subhasischakrabarti4233]

great! thank you.

[@YOGAthletica]

+Subhasis Chakrabarti you're welcome. thanks for watching. :)

[@YOGAthletica]

hi mercedes! if your upper back is rounding, you may be OVER-compensating in the core a bit. if you take the core engagement too far, you essentially wind up in a crunch, which will round your upper back a bit. another possibility is that you might be dropping your head and neck, which will also cause the upper back to round. feel free to send me a vid and i'll let you know for sure. :)

[@Yogamama100]

Wow send a vid. Your the coolest Shana.

[@RJWhyte1954]

i find you so interesting. happy to have come across you. thanks for sharing :)

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you so much! thanks for watching! :D

[@14iceland]

Wow that ego comment about one foot off the wall really hit home with me, girlfriend! Thanks again!

[@YOGAthletica]

it's interesting the different ways that the ego works, right? :)

[@gmoulli6368]

Thanku🧡

[@YOGAthletica]

ganguly moulli 🙏🙏🙏

[@jphillip7948]

@shanameyerson thank you so much. now I know why I tend to fail in my chaturanga, and often got shoulder pain since I tried it using the full power of my arms n shoulder. turns out the core is the secret...love you shana

[@YOGAthletica]

yay! you found the secret! hope it changes your practice forever!

[@YogaSanity]

wow this is the second video that i'm watching from you and lady i like your style!!! a lot!!! :) just subscribed x

[@siyoutama]

Hello Shana, is it possible to activate the subtitles or describe the 6 points needed as specified in an other video ? Thank you very much.

[@YOGAthletica]

I think I activated them now. :) here are my three "secret to all of yoga" videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpesYqJuipukg6M the "sequel" is the one with the six points. :)

[@elvinnoriega9067]

Hey! Is there anyways you can make a yoga video for flexibility? Im really not flexible at all and I need to work on that and I love your way of teaching. Its fun! :)

[@bogotangelito]

Shana hi from Milan Italy, is the secret you explain in this great video about the bandas?

[@YOGAthletica]

hi mauricio...yes, it has a lot to do with the combination of mula bandha and uddiyana bandha. :)

[@fareenafarid4476]

You are awesome

[@YOGAthletica]

Fareena Farid thank you!

[@wombwarp]

really like your style lady!

[@_mhendo]

lately, i've been studying your videos and try it to the t. i do find that in my chaturanga (sometimes), i have like a little hump in my upper back. not sure if it's 'cause my elbows aren't in line with my shoulder all the time? orrrr, if it's cause i'm not pulling my ribs and pelvis together? or not opening through the heart/chest? so it may not be sometimes, it's probably all of the time. ha.

[@dashachess4204]

I thought that the spine is in the vulnerable position when in the counternutation? Kind of like the save mechanics of lifting versus slouching... because the spine is in the stable position when in nutation. So how do we strengthen the core when in counternutation? This info is very new to me, every exercises I've done has been in the anterior pelvic tilt... and I definitely feel more engagement from this video, just wanted to ask to understand. I've been going at it wrong!

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks for your thoughtful message! just to be very clear, i am not advocating a strong counternutation or tuck...more of a rooting of the tailbone down. as the tail roots and the pelvis tilts slightly up, it encourages the spine to go into flexion. By lifting your sternum against that into extension, it forces your upper abs to engage to support the action. ❤️ (it's not about right or wrong...just different!)

[@rajenderreddykoduru7928]

Hi nice explanation, have one doubt like how we engage core in dack bendings. there we can't maintain ribcage in

[@YOGAthletica]

backbends are the opposite of this action...that is true. but the elements that carry through are: lengthening the tailbone to protect the low back, keeping the thighs pressing back/energetically internally rotated and, of course, lifting the sternum, shoulders back and down. and do your best to keep some element of ribcage to pelvis connection...it won't be dramatic...

[@CowboyBebop444]

Awesomeness

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you!

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you! glad it helps! it helped me, too! ;)

[@bogotangelito]

Thanks for your reply :)

[@YOGAthletica]

always! you are welcome!

[@elvinnoriega9067]

Okay great! Thank you!! :)

[@unidjagowan1]

thank you. looks like i've been doing my chatturangga wrong all this time.. :D . any video on how to get a stronger core?

[@YOGAthletica]

+Yuniar uni thanks for writing! i have two chatauranga-specific videos to help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3S1ZKpnm8SKmqM for mastering chatauranga. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWnLe3eimZ15i80 for building strength for chautauranga. i also have a playlist for building core at kzbin.info/aero/PLEk7dn2pk4QUf0zwkOcxJjFu-5Rw_T8M6 :) lots of stuff to help you out! :D

[@unidjagowan1]

Wow.. thank you so much. Loove how you respond so quick namaste

[@YOGAthletica]

if you take the time to write, i will always return the courtesy. :)

[@blackcat138]

Man, Shana looks the same even 10 years ago! Ageless!

[@YOGAthletica]

you are way too kind and my new best friend! ❤️🙏❤️

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you, @linda irani!!!

[@Linda888ization]

haaa bingo (i look back ahahaha) thank you.. thank you... for teach us from your videos... and i love the way you teach us is very detailed explanation.. and not too rush... xoxo

[@YOGAthletica]

my pleasure! :) thanks for watching!

[@peppergina]

Dear Shana, do you know is this action what Uddiyana Bandha is?

[@YOGAthletica]

yogina in my professional opinion...yes! :D

[@sukhmanicambridge]

Brilliant...just one gentle request....cd the acoustics be improved...I find it so hard to make out what your saying...and I so want to hear!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

i know! i have worked on it a lot and made it way better in my newer videos...it's hard because it's a small, empty room with wood floors. :/ you may want to check out the sequel to this video, which expounds on the concept...and has better sound quality. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e53NgpijnbOFpKs

[@sush139]

How do I "pull my ribs to my pelvis" ? What is the precise movement I should perform ?

[@YOGAthletica]

Tilt your pelvis up and pull your ribs down like you are doing a crunch. :)

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks so much! i try to post a new video every three or four weeks, at least. :) you can subscribe to "jstdueit" for updates on new posts. :) thanks for the feedback!

[@ojasyoganepal2767]

I use this in chaturanga. I can maintain a straight spine while going down but I cant seem to lift up from the ground position. Please help.

[@YOGAthletica]

If you are interested, I do private lessons over the internet...but I can't know how to help you without seeing what you are doing. Otherwise, the best way to get it is to keep on working on it. A lot. Some of the things I do, I worked on for years before I mastered them. So, just keep trying and know that the integrity is in the effort, not the end result. You can also be your best teacher by videotaping yourself and seeing if you can see where the weaknesses or imbalances are. 🙏

[@ojasyoganepal2767]

Thank you so much. I will keep working on it and strive to get it one day. Your videos are awesome and helps me learn what actually goes into a posture. Thank you. ❤️

[@YOGAthletica]

@@ojasyoganepal2767 I am so glad to hear that! If you want a full, comprehensive practice that gives you all the tools for anything you want to accomplish, check out my Vimeo channel of full-length classes! ❤️ vimeo.com/ondemand/yogathletica guaranteed to take you to the next level.

[@m3j]

Hi shanna, i can lift bot legs at the same time and hold it for about 15 seconds but when i want to put both feet on the ground simultaneously i loose control. Should i still work on the core strength or on something else?

[@clray123]

When I do the exercise, I can tense up abdomen muscles strongly, but then breathing becomes difficult as I squeeze them so hard. Am I just overdoing it or perhaps using the wrong muscle (rectus instead of transverse)? Are you supposed to only have shallow/strained thoracic breath while engaging the core muscles? Or only tense up a bit so as not to restrict breathing? Plus, when I tense up abdomen, it sort of pops out while the usual recommendations are to hold the navel in as in uddiyana bandha (which I can do well, just not during my core tension attempts). I think my abs are strong (can do many slow double leg lifts or crunches easily), but when I handstand they are sort of turned off because the torso is stretching out together with the legs. I guess I'm a bit confused now...

[@YOGAthletica]

well...remember that you have to complement the engagement with the lift of the sternum and lengthening of the tailbone. these two actions will help mitigate the compression as it does sound like you are over-engaging. but that's good news. it means you are engaging the muscles efficiently. many people can't get to that point. the engagement should not really constrict your breath, as the ujjayi is from the diaphragm upwards and this engagement is of the muscles below the diaphragm. make sure your breath is lung-y, instead of belly-y. in this action, it's not like sucking in your stomach to get on old jeans. it's more like steeling up for a punch in the gut. (how's that for a yoga analogy?).

[@clray123]

shana meyerson Great, thanks, what I'm doing is very much the "steeling up" (same as with shoulders pulled back and arms rotated outwards with elbows close to the body, in the "now hit me, sucker" pose). I guess I just have to learn how not to make the *entire* body rigid and therefore lose control while doing that.

[@YOGAthletica]

are you lengthening the tailbone down, thighs back, and sternum lifting? this should mitigate the effect on the body beyond the core muscles.

[@clray123]

I'm not sure if I'm doing all those moves, hard to tell especially while upside down... What's strange for me is that I can balance without problems in a headstand, but in a handstand I tend to either stick to the wall or fall back right away from it (though I do use core muscles to unstick legs from the wall, not pulling my feet away from it). So I have another question regarding core engagement (or bandhas?). I noticed that when I forcibly stick out my butt (trying to create a backbend in the lower lumbar spine) while clenching my rectum at the same time (sorry for this mental picture, but how to describe it better), I can feel as a result a sensation of lengthening (or maybe pulling in) and stiffening of the lower abs (the part below the navel) and also of lower back. This is easy to feel while lying on my front and sticking my butt upwards, maybe also in chair, though not so much in other poses. Today also I tested it for the first time while swimming breaststroke (where I would usually keep my tailbone "tucked in" and butt relaxed, I guess). It felt like my kicks were more powerful that way. Is that mula bandha? Is it my core engaging in the way that it should be? Are you doing this sort of butt gymnastics implicitly when entering handstand? It's quite a different sensation from the one produced by the method of tightening the abs (upper abs, I suppose) shown in this video. But maybe it's the missing component? To put it yet another way, are you doing anything special with your glutes and/or pelvic muscles to engage the core. And if so, is the stiffening of muscles covering the bladder something to strive for?

[@YOGAthletica]

whenever we go upside down, the mind really does have to reconfigure to figure out what is going on. that is very normal. also, headstand and handstand are totally different poses. headstand is not only about a foot and a half closer to the floor, but you have, in essence a tripod support (either in sirsasana a or b), which is a very secure and stable structure. in handstand, you just have two hands. as to the butt gymnastics (😂), i don't do that, but it doesn't mean that it is not accomplishing what you need for your own body. i really believe that in order to master the more challenging poses, you have to make them your own. you are making them your butt's own. ;) but that's not mula bandha, which is a lifting and engagement of the pelvic floor.

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks! :)

[@Linda888ization]

I love her.. always...

[@YOGAthletica]

+linda irani thank you!

[@dashama]

Aloha my Friend, Great video! I really appreciate to see your videos and am happy to see them helping people live a happier healthier life. Thank you and keep up the great work! I have many yoga, meditation and health videos on my channel if you want to check them out. Feel free to subscribe and leave a comment to let me know any video requests you can think of and I will try to make videos to respond to your request. Keep up the greatness! I look forward to hearing from you. Blessings and Namaste, Dashama

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks, Dashama. so good to hear from you. love your videos, too! :D

[@ashitsaha4797]

Volium is not clear

[@YOGAthletica]

Ashit Saha sorry! I try my best. :/ Maybe turn in the auto-captions. They are not great, but they may help...

[@Doriesep6622]

Funny the ad that came on was a line of early morning barbeque customers, totally oblivious to the pain it causes an animal and their own health.

[@YOGAthletica]

+doriesep6622 and totally oblivious to the fact that i am a very strict vegan for moral reasons. sorry about that!

[@Doriesep6622]

Not your fault. :)

[@alirizamumoglu885]

Turkey,when you come.

[@YOGAthletica]

hi aliriza, though i don't have any immediate plans to come to turkey, i will be in milan, italy this october. details are at yogathletica.com/handstand-arm-balance-weekend-milan-italy-october-24-26-2014/. maybe i can meet you there! :) shana

[@creativebeing1]

I wonder why people dont get to the true nature and essence of yoga. Health is extremely important in.yoga thats why they inveted asana, but these practices are purely preperation for real yoga... i.noticed a lot of women look at yoga as purely physical thing for health. Its like your looking at a picture and your focusing only on the frame instead of the picture. Its a bit silly... and rather childish really. If pple want to get fit go to the gym or gymnastics unfortunantly this overmphasis on the physical has misconstrued and distorted yoga in the west.

[@Bayo106]

very true

[@jase874]

I don't expect a reply as this comment is a year old but I like what you say and wonder if It's the same problem with martial arts? People see it as just kicking and punching but there's supposedly more to it than (like in a spiritual kind of way), is that similar to what you're saying Yoga is like in the west too?

[@YOGAthletica]

you are assuming that because i work hard on the physical, i therefore ignore the spiritual. that is quite a judgement of someone who you don't even know. in fact, my studies run deep into the spiritual aspects of yoga and i always strive to live a moral, yogic life at every moment of the day. but let me posit this: is it possible that god gave us this sacred triumvirate of mind, spirit AND body so that we may honor and nurture all three? if asana and caring for the body were not important, it wouldn't be a part of the yogic precepts. without the body, you have no way to manifest your mind or spirit on this earth. not to mention the self-discipline and control, patience and perseverance that go into the mastery of physical asana.

[@jase874]

woahhh no no no. Sorry i offended you Shana but that's not what i meant at all, my reply was to Daniel D'amato and certainly wasn't about you. I know nothing about Yoga and only came across your videos yesterday when my stepdaughter wanted to find out how to hand stand, after watching that one with your mum I thought it was that great that I watched another two myself. Sorry you misunderstood my reply but you seem like a great person to me!

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks, +jase874 ! i guess i have had one too many people tell me i'm not a real yogini because i focus a lot on the physical asana. thanks for writing. :)

[@Peanut1973martine]

I watched this for the 2nd time to see. The ribs move and its cool the way u explain it

[@YOGAthletica]

Great to hear! Have you seen my prequel and sequel to this video? :)

[@YOGAthletica]

kzbin.info/aero/PLEk7dn2pk4QXqBsNmStXAZSvtSTezLIS4

[@Peanut1973martine]

I got the ribs lift up to this today for my lift ups thankyou

[@YOGAthletica]

that is awesome! :D