Mangesh Dhale
Yoga warm-up poses for beginners The yoga class was very memorable to me. I came in and watched people stooping in unimaginable positions and in my mind I thought, I never can do that. I was rolling out my mat with both excitement and the pure fear. My anxiety must have been felt by the …
Fun yoga sequences for kids Beginners Being a kids yoga teacher and a mom, I have observed firsthand how yoga can change the energy of a child with the help of a simple yoga practice. At the time when my own little one had a lot of after-school wiggles, I realized that I needed something …
ARDH HALASANAA & HALASANA I must tell you, when I first saw Ardh Halasana and Halasana, it seemed frightening. The idea of putting my legs over my head was something that seasoned yogis could do, rather than a person with slightly tight back and busy mind. However, what I learned in the process also changed …
Inner Strength Matyasana The first time I tried Matyasana I recall. I was stiffening in my back, stiffening in my throat, and beating in my heart. It was not simply a case of a physical pose, I was wrestling with an inner wall. However, what I found on the other side of that conflict altered …
Best Journey Paschimottanasana I would gaze and stare at the yogis in intense forward bends with awe and frustration. My hamstringes were taut as guitar strings, and I could barely imagine not having them touched. This was prior to me devoting myself to the study and practice of Paschimottanasana. This is the seated forward bend, …
Unlock Your Inner Power with Natarajasana The first time I saw a person in Natarajasana or Lord of the Dance Pose was my memory. Their figure was an image of noble power, an ideal union of hard work and comfort. I would never do that, I said to myself. I was too tight in my …
My Secret Salabhasana I can still recall the first time when I tried Salabhasana (sha-la-BA-sa-na), or Locust Pose. My back was tight behind, my legs were heavy, and it was an uphill task to raise my chest. I was skeptical. What would this lowly, clumsy posture do to the persistent pang in my back? But …
My Secret Sarvangasana The first attempt that I made to do Sarvangasana, or Shoulderstand, I recall. I was actually sceptical, and my yoga teacher assured that it was a cure-all. My legs raised to the sky, I was lying on my back and felt awkward and unsure. However, something changed as I made myself a …
The Ultimate Trikonasana Guide I recall the first instance that I did Trikonasana or Triangle Pose. This was an elegant and expansive position my yoga teacher moved the rest of the class into which left me with equal feelings of awe and frustration. I could not get my hamstrings relaxed, my balance inexplicably wobbly, and …
Power of USHTRASANA I recall that the first time I deeply experienced USHTRASANA, or Camel Pose. It was not a picture-perfect scene. My thighs were screaming, my heart was racing in my throat and I was fully aware that my lower back would never forgive me. However, something changed as I maintained the posture. This …