A beautiful pose to open the lower back, hamstrings and hips. Watch the tutorial and then try the classes below that bring this yummy stretch into the context of a complete sequence.
Here are some classes featuring Head-to-Knee Forward Bend.
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 18, 2024
Hello friends! This is a calming, grounding yin practice with breath-work. If you're dealing with anxiety, racing thoughts, insomnia, or just generally feel like your nervous system needs a reboot, join me. This is a great evening practice, but you can use it anytime you want a deep stretch, especially for the hips and hamstrings - though the shoulders get some love here, too. Yin yoga is about long holds - really allowing the muscles, fascia and tissue around the joints to release - and when you add deep, conscious breath along with curiosity about sensation, you have something extra potent and special. 2 blocks may be very helpful. This is not a heat-building practice, so please listen to your body and don't force anything. Enjoy x
By Ally Hamilton on Jul 6, 2024
Do you need some serious nervous system decompression and a really deep stretch? Well, look no further because that's what we're doing in this session that is all about hip, hamstring and shoulder opening along with conscious breath and moment-to-moment curiosity about sensation. You may want props - a blanket for some of the hip and hamstring opening, a strap if you want to use it for bound angle in savanna, and a couple of blocks in case you need to "lift the floor up" - but you may not need them. This is a great practice for evening, before bed, or anytime you want to get really grounded.
By Ally Hamilton on May 29, 2024
This is a practice for times you're dealing with lower-body injuries, such as a broken ankle or toe and need a practice where you will sweet and breathe, but stay off your feet! It's also a great practice when you're looking for a little targeted yoga sculpt, even if you aren't injured. The heat building happens in the upper body with multiple cat-cow variations, cobra push-ups on our knees, and the addition of light weights (a soup can or water bottle will do), along with core work on the back. We use the heat to open the shoulders, chest, upper back, hips and hamstrings. Dealing with injuries can be frustrating, or you can use it as a chance to get creative :)
By Ally Hamilton on Feb 27, 2024
We get to the heat-building early and once we're warm we use the heat to deeply open the hips and hamstrings. Have no fear because your core is also going to get attention, along with your shoulders so we can play with twisty arm balances like koundinyasana 1 and dwi pada if you're feeling frisky. Two blocks and an open mind are all you need! Enjoy, yogis.
By Ally Hamilton on Dec 30, 2023
If you spend a lot of time at your desk and/or if you've tweaked your lower back, this is a very simple, very gentle session that is all about the essentials: your spinal health, movements that will relieve a sore low back, open your hip flexors if you do a lot of sitting at a desk, release your wrists and forearms, and give your neck, chest, shoulders, hips and hamstrings a gentle stretch. Intended as a break during your day and not a full practice, or for a little gentle stretching before bed, this session will help the most if you focus on deep breathing throughout.
By Kate Duyn on Dec 9, 2023
Woodchopper meets volleyball player. Intrigued? Good! We're going to play with slow and steady fire today. Sometimes we resist resistance, but when you dive right into the center of it, you find the gift of strength you might not have known you had. There's a lot of deep core work and nice hip-opening waiting for you, too.
By Lauren Peterson on Aug 5, 2023
This slow, deep practice helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, aiding in sleep, digestion and stress relief. Please have a bolster on hand. You can use a firm pillow or a blanket rolled up like a sleeping bag. You might also use 1-3 blocks, depending on your flexibility. Enjoy some time to slow down and tune in, your body will thank you!
By Ally Hamilton on Jul 16, 2023
A practice for days when your head is spinning or you feel overwhelmed or anxious. We begin with grounding techniques and alternate nostril breathing. Pranayama is emphasized throughout the practice along with longer holds, and deep hip, hamstring and shoulder opening. If you want to feel both grounded in your heart and open in your body, this is for you.
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 15, 2023
Friends, I shot this class on the last day of my retreat to Lefkada, Greece! It was an impromptu shoot on my phone and there's ambient noise, but I am hoping with all my heart that the magic of this place travels through the airwaves to meet you right where you are! I am still buzzing from this retreat, from this place, and from those of you who traveled across the globe to practice with me and share this adventure! Cannot WAIT for the next one! This is an all-levels 16-minute re-centering quickie perfect for any time you feel like your thoughts are racing and you need some conscious breathing, opening and grounding! We use sensation to get centered, and then encourage nice spinal energizing and mobility with seated cat-cow variations, eagle arms and extra shoulder, chest and upper back love, seated twists, forward folds, hip and hamstring releasing and a fair amount of breath-work! I hope whatever time of day you do this, you re-enter your space with more inspiration, motivation and a touch of Lefkada in your heart!
By Angela Kukhahn on Dec 1, 2022
A fun, creative flow that targets deep opening in the shoulders, upper back, chest, hips and hamstrings! Grab two blocks, breathe deeply and get ready to open up, yogis!
Ally Hamilton
