Feeling a little sleepy? Want to boost your mood the all-natural way? These basic yoga postures will give you a hit of energy that will last well beyond any sugary treat or extra cup of coffee.
How to do it: Spread your fingers wide and bring your wrist creases parallel to the top edge of your mat. Lift your hips up and back toward the wall behind you to create an inverted V position from the side (or, like a letter A without the crossbar). You can bend your knees a little or a lot to relieve tension in your hamstrings and/or lower back.
Benefits: As with all postures that bring your head below your heart (aka an inversion), downward facing dog boosts circulation, which helps elevate your energy levels. More blood = More energy = More awake YOU!
How to do it: Press your palms into your mat directly beneath your shoulders. Pull your shoulder blades together on your back to broaden space between your collarbones. Engage your core to prevent weight dumping into your lower back. Press the shoelace side of your feet firmly into the mat ā so firm that your kneecaps and thighs lift off of it.
Benefits: Upward facing dog helps open up the entire front side of your body. It stretches your chest and lungs and improves blood flow within your abdomen, both of which can relieve fatigue.
How to do it: From mountain pose, clasp your hands together overhead and point your index fingers toward the sky. On an exhale, lean back slightly as you press your hips forward so they stay stacked on top of your knees and ankles. Continue to engage your core to prevent dumping weight into your lower back. Only bend back so far that you can continue to breathe.
Benefits: Similar to upward facing dog, this posture opens the entire front side of your body and improves blood flow in your core, which can help wake you up at any time of the day.
How to do it: Lay your palms flat on the floor to create a firm foundation. Bend your knees a lot and place them somewhere on your triceps (either up near your armpits or on the outsides of your arms). Maintaining the connection of your knees and triceps, hinge slightly forward so your shoulders begin to stack on top of your wrists. Hug up and in through your core and lift one foot off the mat. Place that foot down and lift the other foot off the mat. You can continue to play with lifting one foot, or lift both feet off the mat and bring your big toes together to touch behind you. Remember to breathe!
Benefits: Like downward facing dog, crow pose is an inversion. Inversions bring your head below your heart, which increases blood flow to your brain and elevates your energy levels.
How to do it: From Warrior II, straighten your front leg and point your toes toward the top edge of your mat (you may also want to shorten your stance by bringing your back foot closer to your front heel). On an inhale, reach, reach, REACH your front arm forward until you think you canāt reach further any more. Once you reach that point, release your front arm toward your front inner thigh or shin and extend your top arm toward the sky. Engage your lower arm side body to prevent all of the weight from dumping into your front knee. Gaze up toward your top arm. Repeat on both sides.
Benefits:Ā Nothing like a little hard work to wake yourself up, eh? Itās important to engage a ton of muscles in triangle pose to lengthen and strengthen safely. Focus on this posture for several breaths and you can feel your mid-day slump melt away.
How to do it: From mountain pose, lift your right leg and bend your knee to bring your heel toward your right glute. Reach for the inner arch of your foot with your right hand. Make sure the eye of your elbow points toward the right side of your space so you can safely open your chest and shoulders. You can keep your knees together, or you can kick into your right foot and slightly hinge your torso forward. Make sure both hips and shoulders continue to point toward the front of your space as you express your pose.
Benefits: Like other heart opening postures, dancer pose increases blood flow in the front side of your body. Plus, itās pretty tough to be sleepy if youāre focusing on balancing on one foot!
Do you have other poses that you find particularly energizing? Leave it in the comments!
2024 Power Life, All Rights Reserved.
Built with š¤ by Blink
2024 Power Life, All Rights Reserved.
Built with š¤ by Blink Wellness
Parking available in the Scheels Parking Lot.
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Kirk was working 80-hour weeks and wearing his shoulders as earrings when he found yoga in 2005. Forever the competitive athlete, he loved the physicality of yoga. When the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga were exposed to him, Kirk was hooked. Yoga provided him with what other activities couldnāt -- the ability to foster the benefits of practice both on and off of the mat. Yoga was something that Kirk could bring into all aspects of his life.
Kirk knows that yoga can be intimidating, so he crafts a class that is playful and inviting, while still being challenging and safe. His creatively planned classes build strength and flexibility in your body and mind while establishing clarity, giving you more confidence to overcome obstacles in your life, and keeping you injury-free. His classes are themed with a message that is relatable and will inspire you to take it with you off your mat. Kirk has been teaching yoga since 2008 and lead his first teacher training in 2012. Where Kirk truly shines is in coaching, developing and bringing out the best in others.
Kirk enjoys traveling (40+ countries to date!), snowboarding, and cherishes time with his wife and two daughters.
Christen Bakkenās yoga journey began in 1998 in a Bikram studio that provided a safe and secure place to practice. She saw the yoga mat as a place to remember her purpose and a place to play. As she continued her studies and began her journey to teaching in 2006, Christen infused yoga classes with devotion and the yoga mat became a place of personal transformation and healing. Her classes are filled with laughter, song, sweat, and usually heart openers. In 2013, Christen began training yoga teachers. This is the place where she finds the most joy - in community with folks looking to grow and be of greater service in their homes, on their mats, and in the world. Over the years, she has led trainings in Denver, the Midwest, Florida, and now abroad. She has trained in continuing education modules, 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour programs. Beyond the mat, Christen is a passionate adventure seeker - she loves to bike, snowboard, and spend time with her husband and pups. She sees each day as a blessing and hopes to remind all who interact with her of this truth.
We validate parking for THREE garages in the area!
Two Light garage located directly north of the studio. Please bring your ticket inside for validation.
Three Light garage at Main and Truman. Garage entrance on Truman. Please bring your ticket inside for a validation sticker.
Power & Light garage at 13th and Grand. Please ask for a parking pass at the studio front desk. (Hot tip: the Power & Light garage has a ton of space! But be sure to give yourself a little extra time to walk to the studio.)
If you find that you are running a couple minutes late due to parking, please call the studio to let the instructor know to wait for you before locking the doors.
We have partnered with our friends at Greenslate to provide 1 hour and 15 minute validated parking for Power Life students in the lot at 36th and Harney (just south of the Cottonwood Hotel).Ā Read below to learn how to take advantage of this perk:
Step 1:Ā Scan the QR code located in the lot.
Step 2:Ā Select your destination (i.e. āyoga studioā).
Step 3:Ā Ask for the validation code at the Blackstone studio front desk and enter it on your phone.
Step 4:Ā You are all set! Have fun at class!
Please note:
The validation provided by Power Life and Greenslate is for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Need to add additional time to your parking space? You can do that conveniently from your phone!
This option is valid once per day per license plate.
There is a paved lot and gravel lot on the West side of the building.
Meters on Court and 4th (by Peace Tree) for $0.25/hour, 9am-9pm Mon. ā Sat. 12-hour max*
Meters on 4th (to the North) for $1.25/hour. Mon ā Sat. 4-hour max.
All meters are free on Sundays and major holidays.
*Starting July 8, 4th Street will temporarily become a one-way. Students will only be able toĀ enterĀ our parking lot from the North via Court Ave. andĀ exitĀ it going south. Thank you for understanding!