Gomukhasana, or Happy Cow Face Pose is a hip-opener which can be too intense for people with knee issues, so please listen to your body! It is also an intense shoulder opener, and you might like to have a strap or towel handy. Nothing should hurt. If you can't breathe deeply, you've gone too far!
Here are some classes featuring Cow Face Pose.
By Ally Hamilton on Nov 20, 2023
If you're looking for a deep reset right now, look no further. This practice begins with grounding and centering techniques and a short talk about the power of your inner voice and why it matters. We move into a flow that targets deep opening for the hips, shoulders, hamstrings and quads. There's core strengthening (but of course) and inversion playtime on your mat or at the wall. Building blocks for moving into handstand with two legs, and exploration of the wide straddle in your handstand are also included. We end with Yoga Nidra in Savasana. Take a little time to come back to center, we could all use that right now <3
By Ally Hamilton on Oct 7, 2023
Hello friends! This is a classic 90-minute practice with Yoga Nidra in savasana. If you're looking for a deep dive, you've found it. We do lots of shoulder, hip and hamstring opening, as well as the upper back and chest -no stone is left unturned. Once we're nice and warm we'll spend some time playing with inversions. As ever, I will give you tons of options so if you aren't comfortable on your hands or on your head, I'll give you some building blocks to play with! I do break down traditional headstand and how to lift (not kick! please don't kick your legs up into headstand) your legs up, which is what we want. But even if you don't want to go upside down today, this is a deep and thorough practice and I hope you enjoy.
By Ally Hamilton on Aug 15, 2023
Perfect for days when you want to build some good heat, increase your energy, open deeply and release tension from every major muscle group! We do some extra fiery core and play with handstands if you're feeling it! A sweet cool-down leads us into a delightful savasana. Enjoy, yogis!
By Ally Hamilton on Jul 8, 2023
Intermediate-to-advanced here, friends! We play with advanced poses like cow-face pose, grasshopper and an eagle/handstand mashup, but options are offered for everything, so intermediate students looking to keep growing...this is perfect for you, too! Sneaky and not-so-sneaky core strengthening throughout to get you fired up to play on your hands. Breath-work but of course, a little yogasculpt woven in to build the heat and remind you of how strong you are...and Yoga Nidra in savasana because you earned it! Enjoy, yogis!
By Ally Hamilton on May 30, 2023
Spoiler Alert: there's no prize for forcing anything. This practice gives you many good opportunities to build heat but you can also back off if you need to! The shoulders, hips, hamstrings and core get a lot of love in this flowing practice, you'll have reminders to keep breathing deeply and to listen to your body and respond with awareness and compassion. Two blocks may be very helpful to deepen some of the backbends and hip openers. Enjoy the good sweat and deep opening, yogis!
By Ally Hamilton on Apr 4, 2023
This is an energizing, joy-unleashing good time where we give lots of love to the shoulders, upper back and chest along with the hips and hamstrings. We do an eagle pose on our knees (a blanket may be helpful if your knees are sensitive), a standing marichi's pose, option for half lotus forward fold or tree pose, and little yoga sculpt when you least expect it, core strengthening, but of course, crow pose if you want to take me up on it, and some sweet camel poses to balance out. If you need to shake off a little heavy energy and unleash some joy, look no further, yogis! Enjoy xx
By Kate Duyn on Feb 17, 2023
This practice is all about clarity of vision and inward freedom. It may seem counterintuitive but discipline is a big part of finding that inward freedom. The idea is to use your discipline or your practice or craft to explore what freedom means for you. Showing up is the key, and coupling your determination with your vision sets you up for limitless possibilities!
By Ally Hamilton on Sep 22, 2022
A deep dive into shoulder, upper back and hamstring-opening along with quadriceps strengthening, lots of breath work and time to feel your feelings. Some fun focus-honing with standing balance, a little reminder not to take anything for granted, and as always, laughter along the way! A block and a strap may be helpful. If you're looking for grounding, opening and centering, this is it.
By Kate Duyn on Sep 7, 2022
This practice is all about the relationship you're having with light! Do you open up to the light? Invite it in? Seek it out? Foster it inside yourself?Or are you repelling light in any way, consciously or unconsciously? This practice peaks with compass pose, Surya Yantrasana - a pose that turns your body into a compass or sun dial so you set yourself up to receive the light when it's offered to you, cultivate it inside yourself, and offer it up to the world around you! Pretty sweet, huh? Grab two blocks and a strap and let's get our compasses calibrated, yogis!
By Ally Hamilton on Aug 12, 2022
If you're looking for a practice to get grounded and open your body deeply, this is it. Even if you practice daily, there are going to be times when you feel tight, or have less energy or have to coax yourself to get on your mat. This is my go-to kind of practice for days like that when I really want to open my hips, shoulders and hamstrings, get my breath going and also free up my energy! It's a great kind of practice when you're dealing with anxiety and need to move to burn it off, but maybe don't have your maximum energy level available. We sweat, move and breathe our way into an open body and a quiet mind. And you may see some arms popping into frame here and there because this is the Wild Card Monday class which I teach over zoom and in person while I film for y'all! I think these classes have a little extra community vibe which is kind of magical. So welcome to the Practice Garden, so glad you're here!
Ally Hamilton
