What They Never Tell You About Side Angle Pose

Have you ever thought about the intent of side angle pose (parsvakonasana)? Are you ready to hear a fresh perspective that will take your awareness to the next level?

In my opinion, side angle pose is the best of two worlds: the hip opening, leg strengthening element of warrior two combined with the side strengthening and side lengthening benefit of triangle pose.

But here's the thing, most people miss these wonderful benefits because their focus is to get their hand to the floor... at all costs. The result? A weird sort of front bend that's hard to breathe in. But before I say anymore, check out this clip...

                    Yoga expert and author, Brian Friedman demonstrates a progression for side angle pose.

I choose the modified version for my system of yoga (Functional Yoga Instruction), personal clients, as well as my led classes because I feel you get the most return for your investment. In other words, you get just as much (if not more) from the most fundamental version than if you decide to progress into the deeper options.

As a smart yoga practitioner, you can see the value of embracing the fundamentals and taking the time to truly develop a deep inner awareness of what is going on during your practice. 

Want more? Check out what these fine folks have to say about their yoga experience with FYI:

Highly Recommended!
5/5 stars "I became interested in yoga when I learned it can help with some stiffness and a bit of arthritis I was having. As a beginner, I purchased Brian Friedman's Functional Yoga Instruction book to help me understand the poses. This book helps you learn how to do a pose correctly, comfortably and really make it count. Brian stresses perfect alignment with every move you make. His explanations and photos stay with me in my head throughout my entire day helping me to stay aligned in all my daily activities. When having correct posture and movement you feel stronger, notice less pain and have more energy. I am starting to feel the healing benefits of yoga on my body and mind. Who would have thought it could feel so good just keeping your body aligned throughout the day?

Great!
5/5 stars "Brian is a fabulous instructor. I took his workshop and learned so much, even after my 7 years of experience. His book is a mirror of his great teaching.

Don't hesitate. Get your copy now!

My Local Gym Was Cheaper, But The Chronic Injuries Weren't Worth It, Fat Loss

Each month Winter Garden Yoga features a client who has achieved amazing results with our guaranteed methods. We call this feature: Winter Garden Yoga's Client of the Month.

Nominees share their stories (in their own words) and their photographs to inspire others to break old, destructive habits and to rise higher than ever before.

This month we are proud to share Byron's story. How has Byron's work productivity improve? How did he drop 20 pounds? And how did Byron become injury free?

Read on...

What made you decide to join our studio?

"For many years my wife and I belonged to a local gym that was much cheaper. I did weight machines, yoga, Zumba and the treadmill. I injured myself several times. My shoulder injury required a medical MRI. My shoulder remained a problem for more than a year. I also had shin splints and problems with my wrists. Although my strength and flexibility improved, I continued to gain weight. Meanwhile, my daughter, who is the director of the Athletic Training degree program at UCF and my wife started casually at [Winter Garden Yoga]. Both my daughter and wife kept telling me about Brian Friedman being an expert in anatomy. I finally decided to attend WGY and Brian helped me with my wrists and shoulder. Another thing that attracted me to WGY was Yin Yoga. I have a rewarding, but high stress job at Disney. I am the day time supervisor at Reedy Creek Power Plant. Guided meditation changes the way one perceives the world and life in general. My job stress has reduced dramatically."

What results have you received since joining our studio?

"I started to see the value of closely supervised practice. My local gym was cheaper, but the chronic injuries were not worth it. My shoulder and wrist issues are resolved and in spite of my enjoying short runs, the shin splints have not returned. Job stress is WAY down making me even more effective in my job. I enjoy the challenges more. Still, I remained a “casual” or drop-in member for a year, even though my wife left teaching yoga at the local gym to become exclusive to WGY. I just wasn’t sure I could commit and attend two or more classes a week. Sometimes my job schedule interferes. When my weight was still not coming off I decided to take a closer look at the contract plans offered by WGY. On April 9th 2014, after reviewing my goals, my physical and mental benefits and the flexible packages offered at WGY I signed a year-long VIP contract."

Before                                              After

Byron lost 20 pounds, has more energy, and is injury free!

What do you like best about our studio?

"The expertise of all of the instructors. I enjoy the workshops and videos offered. I took Brian Friedman’s kettle bell workshop and bought the videos. Since I stopped lifting weights at the local gym and attended the kettle bell workshop I can practice weights at home without any further injury. It makes a great difference to build a proper anatomical foundation for all movement in weight or yoga and it works “off the mat” in everyday life too. I am injury free. I know that the experts at WGY are going to break down every move and explain the intention of each move. I thought I was doing things correctly at the local gym, but the foundation was missing."

After (from the side)
Notice the clothes pin taking up the slack in Byron's shirt.

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our studio?

"What surprised me was the element of commitment. I was on the fence for so long. Once I committed to a contract I got serious. I changed how I ate. I was able to make 2 or 3 classes a week, in spite of my job. I remain injury free and to date I lost 20lbs in 6 weeks! Committing made a difference. Also, I can get advice and personalized attention or instruction. VIP status gives me “head of the line” entrance into workshops at a discounted rate. Having a contract reduced my class fee. I got a “bigger bang for my buck” than I got at the cheaper local gym. The studio, expertise of the instructors, physical and mental benefits, nutrition e-book, commitment and the positive attitude of students is worth the money!"

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of “functional yoga instruction” that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with crowded classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

She Did What?!, Client of the Month

Each month Winter Garden Yoga features a client who has achieved amazing results with our guaranteed methods. We call this feature: Winter Garden Yoga's Client of the Month.

Nominees share their stories (in their own words) and their photographs to inspire others to break old, destructive habits and to rise higher than ever before.

This month we are proud to share Marita's story. How did she lose 26 pounds and drop at least two sizes?

Read on...

"I had walked past [Winter Garden Yoga] several times and finally decided to take the first step and call to register for my first class in August.  I wanted to get more in shape and thought this would be a great way to get started...

"Little did I know how much I would love it!

"[Since investing in my health at WGY] I feel better about myself than I have in a very long time!  I have lost about 26 pounds and gone down at least two sizes.  I just bought a size small shirt a few weeks ago...

"I can't remember the last time I fit into a size small! 

"I am much more aware of what I eat and live a healthier lifestyle overall.

BEFORE

AFTER

                                                

                                                

                                         Marita lost 26 pounds and is down two sizes!

"I love the supportive atmosphere and the personalized planning I receive [at WGY] to best suit the results I was hoping for.  There is a fantastic variety of classes throughout the week and the classes themselves never get boring.  

 

"[My advice to those who are unsure about joining is]...Hop off the fence and join!  I tell everyone who will listen about what a fantastic decision I made by coming to WGY and I truly mean that. The instructors are wonderful and you will feel welcomed from the moment you step in the door."

Have you been nominated yet? We want to hear your story. Please contact us immediately and we will be honored to feature you and your story.

Are you ready to be just like Marita? Are you ready for your own life changing transformation? 

Call us for a free consultation at 407-579-9889 or contact us now! We guarantee your results.

All the best,

Brian

The 3 Mistakes Yoga People Make, Winter Garden Yoga

The 3 Mistakes Yoga People Make, Winter Garden Yoga

I’ve been teaching and practicing yoga for nearly 20 years now. I’ve been to a lot of classes. I’ve been to a lot of workshops. I’ve watched countless DVDs. To put it mildly, I’ve seen it all.

And, because of what I’ve seen, I became very passionate to un-do the stuff that’s being done. So I developed my own method of yoga called FunctionalYoga Instruction™. As you know, my method of yoga is based on strength versus flexibility, alignment versus depth, and awareness versus appearance.

This method is changing lives. I invite you to visit WinterGarden Yoga whenever you’re in the area or to check out our one of a kind DVDs.

If you can’t make it out to see us, I want to share some very important information with you: The 3 Mistakes Yoga People Make.

Don’t take any of it personally. You may not even be aware that you are making a mistake or putting yourself at risk. After all, students do what teachers say. I’m inviting you to open your mind and own up to this stuff so that you can continue to experience yoga in a healing and happy way.

Here they are…

Number One: Stretching

This is a big one and it is a tough one to address because stretching is almost always synonymous with yoga. My mission in life is to change this association forever.

You see, stretching implies that the soft tissue is literally being elongated. This is great if you want to destabilize your joints or risk tearing your muscles. If that’s your goal, keep stretching.

The truth is that our muscles are long enough already. All we need to do is reprogram our nervous system in order to allow our muscles to achieve their fullest range of motion. By doing so, you will become more ‘flexible’ faster and safer. All of the instructors at Winter Garden Yoga are experts at this technique.

Number Two: Workout

I am going to paraphrase Pavel Tsatsouline, “Let yoga be yoga. Let cardio be cardio. Let weight training be weight training.” Yoga can’t be everything. It wasn’t designed to be.

Now, I’ll tell you that Winter Garden Yoga’s clients have said that our classes feel like a workout, and I understand that. After all, our method is based on strength and alignment. And yes, you will get toned. And yes, you will burn calories. But here’s the difference: yoga is just part of the package. Our clients are encouraged to go for walks (cardio) and to lift weights (weight training). When you combine all three components, you’ll have a potent combination that will cover all the bases.

Number Three: Ego

A lot of yogis focus on “How does this pose look?” or “I should be able to do this.” This is the ego. Leave it at the door or with your shoes. At Winter Garden Yoga, our instructors encourage all of our clients to focus on how a pose feels. Don’t take this the wrong way: we don’t care if you can get your hand to the ground or if you can perform some deep-stretch-foot-behind-the-head-maneuver. If you can do it, great.

We care about how your pose feels to you right now. Not what you could do 20 years ago… or 20 minutes ago… only right now. “Can you breathe here?” “Can you meditate here?” These are the questions that will flush out the ego quickly, get you tuned in, and keep you injury free.

That’s it. The 3 Mistakes Yoga People Make. Believe me, there’s a lot more but if you start with these top three, I guarantee that you will see amazing results quickly. In fact, if this happens to you (and it will), contact me at WinterGardenYoga.com because I’d love to hear your story.

All the best,

Brian

PS: Are you a client at Winter Garden Yoga? If not, why? Contact Us for a free consultation so that you can begin making positive changes to your life right now. There’s no obligation. Just give us a call or contact us to see if we’re the right fit for you.

Improve Your Triangle Pose

Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose) is probably the most recognized posture in all of yoga. According to Yoga Journal.com, the benefits include:

"Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles
Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
Stimulates the abdominal organs
Helps relieve stress
Improves digestion
Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
Relieves backache, especially through second trimester of pregnancy
Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica"

In this video clip, I demonstrate a great way to "true up" your triangle pose by using a wall.

Enjoy!

How to Lose 25 Pounds, Increase Energy, and Decrease Stress

Bridget's Story

Each month Winter Garden Yoga will feature a client who has achieved amazing results with the methods we teach at our studio. We call this Winter Garden Yoga's Client of the Month.

Nominees share their stories (in their own words) and their photographs to inspire others to break the mold of complacency and to rise higher.

This month we are proud to share Bridget's story. How does a woman in her 50's lose 25 pounds, improve her cholesterol, and reverse the diagnosis of being pre-diabetic?

Read on... 

"Hey, Brian!  Here [are] the pics you asked me for - not too many "before" pictures!  I hid as much as possible! I've never really looked at [before and after photos] side by side -unbelievable! My story is below.  

"My first time at Winter Garden Yoga was in April of 2011.  I was a wreck at that time - both mentally and physically.  Mentally I was going through some major changes in my life and physically I was so out of shape that it actually hurt to walk. 

"I was terrified to step into [your studio] but I knew I had to do something to fix myself.  As a 50 something couch potato, my main fear was that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the class but I was pleasantly surprised.

"[Brian], teaches the class so that anyone can do yoga, regardless of your physical ability or size.  When he instructs you in a pose, he will usually say, "If you can do this, do this.  If you can't do this, do it this way and if you can't do any of them, just sit and watch.  We'll catch up later."  And in the beginning, I did sit and watch a lot!  And there is no shame involved in not being able to do a particular pose. 

"I took the Beginner's class twice a week for 2 or 3 months before I finally worked up the nerve to take the Power Yoga class.  And again, Brian modifies a lot of the poses to enable you to do what you are able to do.  You can make his classes as easy or as hard as you want them to be.  He doesn't challenge you to move forward but allows you to challenge yourself.  I recently started taking Yin classes with Karen and she does an amazing job also.  I leave her classes feeling like a new person.

"My first signs of physical change came only a few months after I started.  I remember I was driving one day and I looked down at my arm and there was a muscle that had never been there before!  It encouraged me to keep going and try harder and my effort was rewarded.  

"From May of 2011 to December 2011 I lost a total of 25 pounds.  Besides yoga, I also walked and changed my eating habits but I strongly believe that the main reason why I lost the weight was yoga.  Besides being a workout, it encouraged me to think about my body and what I was doing to it and feeding it.  

"Mentally, yoga gives me a place to go and forget about whatever is stressing me out.  It's taught me to learn to concentrate on me - something I never took the time to do.  I've learned how to handle stress much better.  I have more energy now than ever.  Before yoga, when I got up in the morning, it would hurt to walk when I got out of bed.  Not anymore.  Getting up and down from the floor is a breeze, even carrying my granddaughter.   

"I recently went to the doctor for an annual checkup.  At my previous checkup, about a month after I had started yoga classes, my cholesterol was terrible, my blood pressure was high and I was told I was pre-diabetic.  At my last visit, my blood pressure was normal, my triglycerides dropped from 133 to 100, my HDL levels went up and my glucose levels also dropped!

"I cannot believe how much yoga has changed my life.  I can honestly say I'm in better shape now than when I was when I was in my 20's!  But I strongly believe that had I not found Winter Garden Yoga, the results would not be the same.  The patience and understanding shown by the instructors encouraged me to continue and strive to be better.  I plan on being a life-time member at Winter Garden Yoga."

You can do it, too!

Have you been nominated yet? We want to hear your story. Please contact us immediately and we will be honored to feature you.

Are you ready for your own life changing transformation? Call us for a free consultation at 407-579-9889.

All the best, 

Brian

The Greatest Yoga Resources, Pt 2

Which Yoga Books Are Worth It?

Before we get to the books, be sure to check out my recommendations for yoga DVDs. Believe me, those DVDs are game changers. As an aside, and at the behest of my students, I've added another must have title.

As a yoga teacher and studio owner, I am often asked for recommendations in yoga books. My goal is to share with you some titles that have had the most positive influence on me as an instructor and I was developing my own method of yoga, Functional Yoga Instruction.

My Go To Yoga Books...

I used to have mixed feelings about Dr. Long's series. At first I was a little upset because someone else beat me to the punch. Dr. Long is the first yoga person to capture so many of my ideas on paper. Then a funny thing happened... I realized that Dr. Long saved me a lot of time and trouble. Now, instead of writing all of this stuff down, I can happily refer people to his awesome material. 

Begin with these two as there is a life's worth of study here. 

When you've mastered the contents contained within these pages, check out Dr. Long's Mat Companion Series books.



Leslie Kaminoff's classic is a great introduction to discovering the intent of each yoga pose.



I'm adding this recommendation here to proactively deflect potential emailing...

The truth of the matter is: Functional Yoga Instruction is catching on. Inhale Yoga Studio in Athens, Ohio has made the FYI manual mandatory reading for their 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training.

My guarantee: you will never think of yoga the same way after reading Functional Yoga Instruction.



These recommendations are enough to transform anyone's yoga practice forever. Click on the links, invest in your yoga practice, and let me know what you think.


All the best, Brian