One inspiring cue:
Start in Downdog with your heels on the wall. Take one foot to the wall with your knee bent so your leg is parallel to the ground. Then, push your foot into the wall and float your other foot off of the ground. If you feel stable in your shoulders and core, lift the floating foot towards the ceiling (as in the image above).
Note: it’s easy for your foot to slip on the wall so make sure to push firmly. Also, be sure to start with your foot high enough so that when you press your leg straight, it’s close to being parallel to the ground.
Why?
Handstands seem to be a pose many students want to practice but are intimidated to try. Right Angle Handstand is the perfect way to feel the effects of going upside down without fully kicking up into a Handstand
One inspiring tip:
Be mindful that you want to try to have your shoulders over your wrists when you arrive in the pose. I often see students with their hands way in front of their shoulders in this variation, which can make it harder and feel more like a leaning plank pose.
To combat this, set yourself up for a shorter Downdog at the wall when you begin. You may have to initially float your leg off the ground a few times to get a sense of where you want to place your hands for the best alignment.
One inspiring song:
One inspiring quote:
“Beware of destination addiction – a preoccupation with the idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job and with the next partner. Until you give up on the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.” – Robert Holden, PhD
Nutrition nugget:
THE HIDDEN (AND SURPRISING!) BENEFITS OF COFFEE
If you’re anything like me, you may go to bed thinking about your morning cup of coffee. Besides giving us an energy boost, there are some amazing potential health benefits that your morning cup of joe can provide! To start, the antioxidants in coffee “may reduce internal inflammation and protect against disease,” say nutrition experts from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. And there’s more…let’s take a look at more possible benefits of coffee these experts have found.
“One in 23 women develop colon cancer. But researchers found that coffee drinkers – decaf or regular – were 26% less likely to develop colorectal cancer.”
“Dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occurs naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.”
“Almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. But the caffeine in two cups of coffee may provide significant protection against developing the condition. In fact, researchers found that women age 65 and older who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop dementia in general.”
To read more about the potential benefits of coffee, click here or on the image below.
Ready for a few “fun” facts about coffee from Harvard.edu??
“The lighter the roast, the lighter the color and roasted flavor, the higher its acidity. Dark roasts produce a black bean with little acidity and a bitter roasted flavor. The popular French roast is medium-dark.”
“Exposure to moisture, air, heat, and light can strip coffee of its flavor. Coffee packaging does not preserve the coffee well for extended periods, so transfer larger amount of coffee to airtight containers.”
“While water is always the best choice for quenching your thirst, coffee can count towards your daily fluid goals. Although caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, it is offset by the total amount of fluid from the coffee.”
To read the full article, click here or on the image below.
I will cover decaffeinated coffee and mold in coffee in my next newsletter. Until then, try going upside down in a Right Angle Handstand and keep enjoying your morning coffee boost! If you don’t drink coffee because it doesn’t agree with you or for other health reasons, you don’t need to start. There are plenty of other ways to get the health benefits that coffee offers!