Heart And Hips Practice | Hands Free Yoga | Yoga With Adriene

Yoga With Adriene・2 minutes read

Adriene guides a heart and hip-focused yoga practice using props for support, emphasizing sensation over appearance and incorporating breathing techniques. The session includes various poses and movements to open the heart space, improve flexibility, and engage the core muscles for a well-rounded practice.

Insights

  • Focusing on sensation over appearance, Adriene's hips and heart yoga practice emphasizes balance between the sides of the body through detailed movements and breathing exercises, aiming to open the heart space while maintaining groundedness in the lower body.
  • The session progresses from seated poses to supported Boat variations and hip-opening stretches, incorporating the use of a towel as a makeshift strap for alignment and deepening stretches, encouraging core activation and engagement of the heart and hips in a holistic approach to movement and alignment.

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Recent questions

  • How can I improve my yoga practice at home?

    To enhance your yoga practice at home, consider incorporating a hips and heart yoga session. Start by sitting comfortably on the ground with a blanket or pillow for support. Focus on balancing the sides of your body by uncrossing your ankles and bringing your heels in. Remember to prioritize sensation over appearance in poses, particularly in the shoulders and hips. Use a dish towel or similar item as a makeshift yoga strap for arm movements, emphasizing space in the belly and side body. Progress through movements like reaching up, side stretches, and supported Boat pose for core stimulation. Finish with a hip-opening stretch on your back, using the towel as a strap for alignment. Remember to breathe deeply and move slowly to maintain grounding and engagement in the heart and hips.

  • What are some tips for opening the heart space in yoga?

    Opening the heart space in yoga involves focusing on the shoulders and hips simultaneously. Start by sitting comfortably and balancing the sides of your body. Emphasize sensation over appearance in poses, using a makeshift yoga strap for arm movements to create space in the belly and side body. Progress through movements like reaching up, side stretches, and supported Boat pose for core stimulation and chest opening. Finish with a hip-opening stretch on your back, using the towel as a strap to deepen the stretch and maintain alignment. Remember to breathe deeply and move slowly, engaging the core and focusing on alignment to open the heart space effectively.

  • How can I incorporate breathing exercises into my yoga routine?

    Breathing exercises can be seamlessly integrated into your yoga routine to enhance your practice. Focus on imagining the breath traveling down towards the hips and then up towards the chest. Use the breath to guide your movements, particularly in poses that emphasize opening the heart space. Incorporate deep breathing during arm movements, side stretches, and supported Boat pose to enhance core engagement and chest opening. Remember to breathe deeply and mindfully throughout the practice, using the breath as a tool to connect with your body and deepen your yoga experience.

  • What are some key movements to improve flexibility in yoga?

    To improve flexibility in yoga, focus on movements that target the shoulders and hips simultaneously. Start by balancing the sides of your body and uncrossing your ankles. Use a makeshift yoga strap for arm movements to create space in the belly and side body. Progress through movements like reaching up, side stretches, and supported Boat pose for core stimulation and chest opening. Finish with a hip-opening stretch on your back, using the towel as a strap to deepen the stretch and maintain alignment. Remember to move slowly, engage the core, and focus on alignment to improve flexibility effectively.

  • How can I maintain alignment and engagement in yoga poses?

    To maintain alignment and engagement in yoga poses, focus on balancing the sides of your body and prioritizing sensation over appearance. Use a makeshift yoga strap for arm movements to create space in the belly and side body. Progress through movements like reaching up, side stretches, and supported Boat pose for core stimulation and chest opening. Pay attention to alignment in poses that target the shoulders and hips simultaneously, using the breath to guide your movements. Remember to move slowly, engage the core, and breathe deeply to maintain alignment and engagement throughout your yoga practice.

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Summary

00:00

Heart and Hip Yoga Practice with Adriene

  • Adriene introduces a hips and heart yoga practice, suggesting using a dish towel or similar item as a makeshift yoga strap.
  • She advises starting seated on the ground, suggesting using a blanket or pillow for comfort.
  • Instructions are given to uncross the ankles and bring the left heel in, followed by the right heel, to create balance between the sides of the body.
  • Adriene emphasizes focusing on the sensation rather than the shape of the poses, particularly noting not to worry about appearance or flexibility.
  • The practice is centered on opening the heart space, focusing on the shoulders and hips simultaneously.
  • Breathing exercises are incorporated, with guidance to imagine the breath traveling down towards the hips and then up towards the chest.
  • Participants are instructed to use the towel or chosen item to perform arm movements, emphasizing gaining space in the belly and side body.
  • Movements are detailed, including reaching up towards the sky, side stretches, and semi-circles, all while keeping the lower body grounded and the heart lifted.
  • The practice progresses to a supported Boat pose, with variations for core stimulation and chest opening.
  • The session concludes with a hip-opening stretch on the back, using the towel as a strap to deepen the stretch and maintain alignment.

15:25

Heart-opening yoga pose with hip engagement

  • Inhale and lift the chest for a heart-opening pose, exhale and slowly turn right toes out to open through the right hip, keeping the left side heavy.
  • Move slowly to maintain grounding in the left hip, using the wall for support if needed, and gradually straighten the leg.
  • Use a sharp exhale to activate the core, drawing the navel in, and return to the starting position by bending the left knee and crossing a towel over.
  • Transition to the second side by lifting the left leg, crossing it over, and focusing on heart and hip engagement.
  • Experiment with wrist and finger positions while keeping the heart lifted, working as a whole unit rather than isolating body parts.
  • Use a strap behind the left thigh, straightening the leg and focusing on shoulder blade alignment for a heart-opening stretch.
  • Slowly bend the left knee, turn the toes out, and pay attention to core activation and body alignment, pausing to breathe deeply and possibly straightening the leg before returning to the starting position.
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