THE YOGI: FIVE TIPS FOR THE SPIRITUALLY-CURIOUS
Johan Montijano, 34, has led aspiring yogis at gyms such as YogaWorks and Equinox for the past five years and knows how difficult the practice can be for newbies. “The first class I took, I sucked at it,” he laughs. “But I don’t like not being perfect at something, so I went back to it.” He suggests you do the same, starting with the following basic poses.
LEGS: High Lunge
You either hold it, or you come in and out, bending one knee and then straightening. “The more you bend the front knee, the more intense the pose is,” warns Montijano. “If you straighten the back leg, it’ll help the front leg bend a little bit more.”
1. Position the front knee over the front ankle, to protect your knee joint.
2. For the back leg, you have the option of bending or straightening it.
3. Raise your arms over your head, alongside your ears.
Hold position for: 10 times (five times for each leg).
Elizabeth Lippman