Transition Tuesday

Hello Friends!

Today I am breaking two simple but challenging transitions that fit well together or work all on their own. If you haven’t seen the video on my IG already, head over to @leenslens to see the spilt hop & handstand hop switch transitions. These can be used to come into and out of most of your standing postures, and are fantastic ways to build in extra shoulder & core work (road to handstand anyone?!?!?!).

First is the split hop from down dog into crescent lunge (or any other standing pose). It’s important to make sure you’ve warmed the hamstrings up a bit – any split or handstand requires open hammies! Step 1: extend left leg up – keep left pinky toe angled to the floor so hips remain square. Step 2: look between your hands, shift your body weight forward, and wrap the outer arms in towards center. Step 3: draw the belly button in & up, spread the inner thighs apart, and hop the right foot up between your hands (or close to it bc as you can see I didn’t quite make it there). Step 4: set the foundation for your standing posture and inhale to rise.

Next, we look at the handstand hop/switch back to chaturanga. This second transition does require a little more time to get right but it’s fun to play around with. Step 1: plant your hands shoulder width apart and extend your left leg up. Step 2: tuck the right outer hip back, wrap the outer arms in (sound familiar?!?!), and bring your body weight into your hands. Step 3: lift your hips, rise onto your right toes and kick up to handstand. Step 4: leave your right leg extended up, slowly bring left leg towards mat, bend elbows into the sides of your ribs and draw the chest forward. Step 5: keep the core and shoulder girdle tight to land with control in chaturanga. FULL DISCLOSURE – step 4 & 5 will not happen right away…most of us will take step 3 & then head back to vinyasa and that’s okay because this is just yoga!

The goal is to do this every week…we’ll see how it goes! Have fun with sprinkling this into practice!

’til next time, keep smiling! 😉

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Silver Linings

Hello Friends!

SO Pre-Cana wasn’t terrible…can’t help but thinking since we’re on the west coast we got a more laid back version!! The grounds, the lunch they provided, and the dinner we had at Flea St. Cafe afterwards were all lovely so even though I wasn’t thrilled about this weekend, all and all we had a good time!!! Phil and I couldn’t believe we found such a gem of a restaurant hidden in what seemed like a very nondescript section of Menlo Park…from the cocktails to the culinary treats, the meal was a delight!!!! On a different note, my bike was stolen 😦 ! Yep, from right outside my window some crazy crackhead jacked my ride to and from work 😦 BUT with the help of the amazing man I get to spend the rest of my life with, we found an even better version of my bike AND we got a great deal! Sadly, I got a wicked flat on my way to work this morning and it took me 4 bike shops and about the same number of miles out of my way after work to get it fixed…it seems the Irish luck keeps on rolling. Here is where I have a choice…this can consume me or this could be something I let go…and with the help of the people I love, I can let it go. My mom helped me through the flat situation this morning…I called her and even if she didn’t know it because our conversations can be a little combative (mainly because I know what she is saving ‘under’ what she is saying AND that it upsets her when I call her sad) she calmed me down, helped me refocus on what’s important, and made me feel supported and loved – the only things I needed. What I’m saying is every shitty day has lots of silver linings and you can choose to notice them, hold on to them, and make them light your day, OR you can ignore them and allow the clouds to roll on in….choose wisely!

Until next time, keep smiling! 🙂