Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, aka Ginger Spice, teamed up with yoga teacher and fellow Briton, Katy Appleton to create a yoga program with benefits for anyone, regardless of age and yoga experience. "Geri Yoga" is touted to promote weight loss, increase flexibility and boost overall energy. Numerous traditional yoga poses are illustrated, with Geri showing the most advanced variations of these poses. The program outlines two warm-up sessions, numerous traditional yoga poses and a guided relaxation section.
Breathing Warm-Up
Appleton outlines three different yoga breathing styles. "Tummy" breathing, "complete yoga breath" and Ujjaii, or victorious breath. The breathing techniques are used for centering the mind and eliminating tension throughout the body. After the breath centering, gentle supine joint stretches are performed to prime the body for more strenuous poses.
Sun Salute Warm-Up
The Sun Salute warm-up features a slow-moving warm-up series that begins in Child's Pose and moves into Downward Facing Dog, which is called "Inverted-V Pose," then moves to kneeling lunges and a standing forward bend. A series of three classical sun salutations follows, for a more dynamic warm-up.
Inverted Poses
This section is the beginning of "Geri's Postures" and Halliwell illustrates the more advanced variation of each pose. Modifications are provided for beginners, or those who don't wish to try the more energetic poses.
The Dolphin pose is used as a warm up for the Headstand. The Headstand practiced is the Three-Point Headstand, where the head and hands are on the floor creating a tripod for balance.
A shoulderstand is shown for an advanced pose and Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose is offered as a modification. The shoulderstand progresses into Plow Pose and then advanced Bridge.
A very advanced Candle Pose is illustrated, which is a shoulderstand without the support of the arms.
Wheel, or backbend, concludes the inverted poses. The counter-poses for these extreme neck stretches are Supine Knee-to-Chest, Child's and Fish Pose.
Prone Poses
A series of chest lifts prepare the spinal muscles for Cobra Pose. The advanced Bow pose is shown with a Rocking Bow variation. A beginner's version of the pose is shown holding one leg at a time. Each pose is countered with Child's Pose.
Seated Pose
A seated twist is used to gently stretch and relax the spine and massage the internal organs.
Arm Balance
The single arm balance of the program is Crow Pose, which helps to garner focus and build upper body strength. The pose is relieved with Child's Pose.
Standing Poses
A standing Forward Bend is shown with directions for modifications for tight hamstrings or back. Arm variations are offered to help release tension in the back.
Directions for appropriate leg alignment for the lateral spinal pose, Triangle, are given.
Warrior II Pose is shown with slight modifications and between each side, a Wide-Leg Forward Bend is practiced to relax the body.
For standing balance, Tree Pose is shown with variations and modifications.
Relaxation
The session wraps up in Corpse Pose with Appleton guiding a relaxing meditation.
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