As I mentioned in the crossfit section,   I spend a great deal of my energy helping people take on their own anxiety and depression.  The transformations you are witnessing in the videos are both physical and emotional.  Listen closely how the tone of voice changes in the after videos.   For patients in the office and clients online, I plan to make this blog a mecca for finding the sensitive balance of the body and mind.   This balance point of wellness is often times very difficult to achieve and all efforts should be viewed as an ongoing artistry for life.  Like with every real Art, it can never be perfected, only improved upon.

My mission is to add methods and activities that are both fun and effective, stimulating the most sluggish of emotional situations.     

For our first week of yoga poses,  I want to share with you the very popular and effective  “Shoulder Stand”

I chose this one for week 1 because I find it to be dramatically helpful for easing the commonly tense muscles of the lower neck and upper back.  It’s also pretty fun. 

                 (basic pose)                                                (super-advanced)   

Directions:  (These are very basic instructions to get you started)

-Lie on your back

-Bring your knees up and toward your head.

-Use your hands to support your lower back.  (see photo)

-With your hands,  press the lower back higher into the air keeping the knees bent at first. 

-When your hips are in the air and you are getting a good stretch of the neck,  you can try to straighten your legs to the sky. 

-Use your abs to control the legs and try to get your back straight like the photos above.   Avoid looking side to side and tuck your chin into your chest.

-Breathe in and out slowly through your nose.  Each breath should help move the pose further into position.

-You can hold the pose for as long as you are comfortable.   Come down frequently as a beginner to make sure you’re not overdoing it. 

Hope you are lovin it.  I just did it. 

Be careful with yoga poses.  There are many possible injuries from this type of stretching.   go slow at first. 

I do my yoga poses after my muscles are very warm from my crossfit routine.

Enjoy, 

-Dr. Neal