Pose of the Month Chagrin Yoga

Each month, a different Chagrin Yoga instructor picks a pose of the month to focus on during classes throughout the month. Below you will find descriptions, benefits, tips and techniques about this month's pose, as well as previous poses. We hope the Pose of the Month program at Chagrin Yoga helps you gain a better understanding of these beneficial poses!

	SEPTEMBER 2010 Pose: Vrksasana (Tree Pose) Picked by: Shaun Sterling Vrksasana or Tree Pose was picked by substitute instructor, Shaun Sterling and is Chagrin Yoga's pose for September. The challenge of Tree Pose is maintaining balance on one leg. Regular practice of this posture will help improve concentration, balance and coordination. Because the weight of the entire body is balanced on one foot, Tree Pose helps strengthen your thighs, calves, ankles and back. It can also increase the flexibility of your hips and groin. Read more about Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
	AUGUST 2010 Pose: Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) Picked by: Jennette Zimmerman Chagrin Yoga's pose for August is Uttanasana (standing forward bend) and consists of standing with your feet together and hinging forward from the hips, letting the head hang, with palms placed flat on the floor near the feet. This pose provides a complete stretch to the entire back of the body, particularly the hamstrings, and brings about intense extension to your legs and spine. Your hamstrings will wake up and your mind will be soothed. Uttanasana is a critical piece of Surya Namaskar, sun salutation sequences done in vinyasa yoga. Come to the studio this month and increase your flexibility with Uttanasana! Read more about Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)
	JULY 2010 Pose: Utkatasana (Chair Pose) Picked by: Melanie Tessmer Chagrin Yoga’s pose for July is Utkatasana (Chair Pose), one of the most powerful yoga postures for improving leg strength. Utkatasana is a deep and intense squat that immediately engages the strength of your legs, back and ankles. Chair Pose works the core muscles, stretches the chest, shoulder and arms, and strengthens the lower back. It helps relieve tension and stress, and stimulates the heart, diaphragm and abdominal organs. The pose may look like you're sitting in an imaginary chair, but it's anything but relaxing, it's important to use your breath to maintain the pose. Come to Chagrin Yoga this month and try out Utkatasana during a Sun Salutation B or with an abdominal twist! Read more about Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
	JUNE 2010 Pose: Savasana (Corpse Pose) Picked by: Shakthi Paramasivam Chagrin Yoga's pose for June is Savasana (Corpse Pose), a relaxing and rejuvenating posture that concludes every yoga practice. This final resting pose gives the body time to understand and absorb the new information it just learned during yoga practice. This pose requires complete stillness in both mind and body, and the focus is simply relaxing every body part and letting go completely. Savasana calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. It reduces headache, fatique, and nervousness and improves concentration. Come to any Chagrin Yoga class and we'll guide you through proper preparation to ensure a relaxing and peaceful Savasana! Read more about Savasana (Corpse Pose)
	MAY 2010 Pose: Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand) Picked by: Darcy Providente Chagrin Yoga's pose for May is Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand), an inversion that strengthens the shoulders, arms and wrists. Handstand also stretches the abdomen, improves your sense of balance and calms the brain - helping to relieve stress and mild depression. For many yoga students, a major obstacle to Handstand is the natural fear of falling. We're focusing this month on several strength- and confidence-building exercises that will help you face your fears and conquer Handstand! Once you're balancing upside down, your vital organs will enjoy a much-needed rest, your circulation and respiration will improve and you'll experience heightened mental clarity. Read more about Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand)
	APRIL 2010 Pose: Vasisthasana (Side Plank) Picked by: Maribeth Will Chagrin Yoga's pose for April is Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose), a strength-building, one-arm balance that targets core muscles (abs, back, hips) and engages the shoulders and wrists. Side Plank opens the chest and heart which expands the rib cage and enables increased lung capacity. This pose is an excellent abdominal strengthener, it improves balance, and it stretches and strengthens the wrists, arms, and legs. Read more about Vasisthasana (Side Plank)
	MARCH 2010 Pose: Salabhasana (Locust Pose) Picked by: Brian Paquette Salabhasana (Locust Pose) is one of the 26 postures of Hot Hot Yoga and is said to be the best way to maintain the body in perfect condition. It increases spinal strength and flexibility, helps prevent lower backache, and helps cure gout, lumbago, rheumatism, slipped disc, sciatica and arthritis of the spine. It also relieves menstrual problems, cures loss of appetite, helps correct bad posture, and improves the functioning of the liver and spleen.
	FEBRUARY 2010 Pose: Ustrasana (Camel) Picked by: Deanna Lee Chagrin Yoga's pose for February is Camel, a heart opening pose that helps respiration. Camel is a deep backward bend performed in a kneeling position. As a stretch, it opens the whole front of the body and works the chest, hips, thighs, biceps, ankles and shoulders in the process. Come to Chagrin Yoga this month and you'll surely find yourself in Camel Pose! Click the link below for more information on Camel including preparation, benefits and modifications. Read more about Ustrasana (Camel)