Michelle offers free yoga classes through the YouTube Channel, Michelle Cawley Yoga.
In today's Yoga for Beginners video, we explore three-part breath. The breath is considered the bridge between the mind and body, which is why it's such an important tool when practicing yoga. Staying tethered to the breath helps improve your focus on and off of the mat.
Read MoreStretching your wrists before yoga practice will help with your recovery after practice. Many of the postures we practice are weight-bearing, like plank, downward-facing dog, or chaturanga dandasana. Doing these seven wrist stretches before practice (especially a handstand practice) will alleviate soreness and help prevent injury.
Read MoreDuring this 30-minute Restorative Yoga class, we'll use restorative postures to create a sense of deep relaxation. Postures are supported with a range of props and are held for longer periods of 10-15 minutes allowing the body-mind to fully relax.
Read MoreFinding a comfortable meditation seat can be half of the battle when meditating. It's kinda like Goldilocks and The Three Bears. She wants her porridge to be just right. We want the same for our meditation seat. Because having a supportive, sturdy seat allows us to stay in stillness longer. In this quick yoga tips video, I offer 17 different ways you can prop your seat. I use a combination of yoga blocks, blankets, a bolster, a zafu, a zabuton, and a meditation bench.
Read MoreStart your day off right with a little bit of movement. In this 8-min video, I guide you through some gentle stretches you can do in the morning (or even in the evening before bed – it's up to you!).
Read MoreOne of my good friends, who is cycling to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis this weekend, asked me for some stretches to help alleviate hip pain. So, before she headed to New Bern to complete a century ride on Saturday, I guided her through a series of stretches and myofascial release techniques to help with recovery. I thought I’d share what we covered in our session together because we can all use some gentle stretching!
Read MoreIn this 60-minute Hatha yoga practice, we'll remove the vinyasas and hold postures for longer so that you can work on body awareness in each posture. Grab two yoga blocks and meet me on your mat.
Read MoreIn the physical practice of yoga, your foundation is anything touching the ground in support of the body. Let’s use plank pose as an example. Your hands and feet are your foundation. In headstand, the crown of your head, your hands, and forearms are on the mat. Let’s take a closer look by exploring Mountain pose.
Read MoreI very clearly remember the first time someone invited me to Om — I didn't. I used to dance with a non-profit organization based in Durham, NC called Choreo Collective. Early on in my 8+ year tenure with the company, we were using yoga postures to warm-up before rehearsing. Near the end of the warm-up session, the instructor invited us to Om (pronounced ah-uu-mm). I chose not to for many reasons.
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