balance

Martial Arts for Families

The practice of Martial Arts undoubtedly creates a strong family bond.

Martial Arts, unlike other sports, can be practiced as a family activity.

Practicing helps create as well as maintain a direct line of communications between parents and their children, or between partners. Additionally, it creates discipline, respect, and trust among the family members in practice.

family

(With my two sons.)

The U.S. Census (www.census.gov) states that :

  • Households and families have gotten smaller over time; and
  • Living alone has become more widespread.

A Family that Trains Together, Stays Together!

Yoga v2 – Modified Padangusthasana

For this second session, I present the proper foundation and practice for a modifed “standing forward bend” (or “big toe”) pose, or Padangusthasana.

This pose calms the brain -reducing stress and anxiety, stimulates your kidney and liver, fully stretches your lower limbs, improves the function of your digestive system -is a full core compression pose, relieves headaches by recirculating fresh oxygen to your brain, and helps relieve symptoms of menopause.

For martial artists, this pose in addition does help with strengthening kicks, it helps with strengthening core, it lengthens reach for both lower and upper limbs, and improves flexibility and balance.

Tabitha

-Tabitha. White Belt, Bikram Yoga practitioner + Usui Ryoho Reiki Master

Yoga v1 – Janushirasana

In looking to contribute to the knowledge bank of Be Black Belt, I thought it would be useful to share what I have learned as a Bikram yoga practitioner of over 4 years. I attend the practice regularly, at times 5 to 7 days a week, and it does amazing things for me both mentally and physically.

For this first session today, I present the proper foundation and practice of the “head to knee” pose, or Janushirasana, with leg stretching. This pose benefits the sciatic nerve -helping prevent “sciatica”, is beneficial for back bones and muscles, and aids digestion (any pose involving compression of the core will be beneficial for digestion).

This pose can be found toward the end of the Bikram 26-pose series, and is very helpful for martial artists to improve both flexibility and reach.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/136020860]

It is Important to Remember that you exit all yoga poses in the reverse order of your entry, with all steps accounted for.

Lastly, it is important to practice all stretching exercises -be it yoga poses or other simpler stretching poses, with the proper foundation and sequence, this to not only to prevent injury but also to receive all the benefits the pose has to offer. 

Tabitha

-Tabitha. White Belt, Bikram Yoga practitioner + Usui Ryoho Reiki Master