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Yoga

4 Yoga asanas for core strength and balance

by Lorraine C. Ladish March 27, 2022
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
4 Asanas for core and balance

If I´ve learned something after a lifetime of body work, it´s that strengthening our core is vital, not to get six-pack abs (I don´t have them), but to protect our back and help maintain our balance. I´ve had two babies and I´m 56. Although I practice yoga daily, I still have loose skin around my middle. I usually don´t wear a shirt in class to hide it because at this age (or any age, really) who cares?

However, I´m able to stand up from the floor without using my hands, and if I trip, I can usually recover pretty fast without falling or injuring myself. Hoping I can help others feel just as strong and confident, here are four yoga poses that are also used in general fitness classes that can help any of us have a strong core and good balance at any age. 

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March 27, 2022 2 comments
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Wellness

What “yoga off the mat” means for me

by Lorraine C. Ladish April 12, 2021
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
Where and how actual yoga takes place daily

At nearly 56, I finally and fully realize that THIS in and of itself, and as much as I enjoy it, is not yoga. This is an asana posture,ardhachandrasanachapasana. The real yoga is actually a way of life and happens mostly off the mat.

Ways I practice yoga daily:

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April 12, 2021 2 comments
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Wellness

Some of us need a little more than yoga for mental health

by Lorraine C. Ladish January 31, 2021
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
Some of us need a little more than yoga for mental health

A friend recently asked me whether I had considered quitting my meds for anxiety and depression, now that I’m so deep into yoga and meditation. My answer was no. I’ve been on the same combo and dose for 15 years now, and it took me a lifetime to hit on the right cocktail for me. This doesn’t mean I will never quit the meds; maybe I will, maybe I won’t.

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January 31, 2021 2 comments
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Yoga

The Yamas and Niyamas provide tools for a life of self-responsibility

by Lorraine C. Ladish September 14, 2020
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
The Yamas and Niyamas provide tools for a life of self-responsibility

Of the 8 limbs of yoga outlined in Patanjali´s Yoga Sutras, the first two attract me the most. These are the Yamas and Niyamas, which I read about over and over and try to embody. It´s not easy, but it´s not impossible. It takes practice though. 

The Yamas and Niyamas are the foundation for a way of life that enables us to assume responsibility for our lives, all of our lives, past, present and future. 

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September 14, 2020 0 comment
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MeditationWellness

My favorite hand mudra: Gyan Mudra, to center myself

by Lorraine C. Ladish May 25, 2020
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
Mudras are hand gestures or hand positions that have the purpose of channeling the body's energy flow in a certain way. Gyan Mudra is one of my favorites. #yoga #mudra

Do you use mudras during your yoga or meditation practice or even when you’re going about your day? Mudras are hand gestures or hand positions that have the purpose of channeling the body’s energy flow in a certain way.

This particular mudra – Gyan mudra – is one of the most widely used. The thumb and the index finger are touching lightly, making a circle, and the other fingers are straight. 

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May 25, 2020 0 comment
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WellnessYoga

2 Restorative yoga poses to help you fall asleep

by Lorraine C. Ladish April 7, 2020
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
I fell in love with restorative yoga four years ago and recently became certified to teach it. These poses with bolsters or pillows will help you sleep.

The first time I saw photos of people doing restorative yoga on bolsters I thought, “what a waste of time.” I was sooo wrong. Now that I’ve experienced the benefits for almost four years and am certified to teach restorative, I’m a big fan.

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April 7, 2020 0 comment
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LifestyleWellness

My restorative yoga practice when I have a cold

by Lorraine C. Ladish March 10, 2020
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
My restorative practice when I have a cold

I’m usually pretty resilient when it comes to sidestepping colds. As soon as one of the teens or my husband catches a cold, I start taking Kick-Ass Immune, an organic, herbal immune booster by WishGarden herbs. I’ve managed to prevent myself from catching a cold numerous times,  just by taking this supplement. However, last week, every single person in the house had a cold, and were coughing and sneezing all over the place, so despite my best efforts, my body succumbed too.

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March 10, 2020 0 comment
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MeditationYoga

The real meaning of “asana” in yoga

by Lorraine C. Ladish February 13, 2020
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
The real meaning of "asana"

Did you know that “asana” as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali literally means “seat”? So asana, in the early days, was the part of yoga practice (see my previous post on the eight limbs of yoga) which basically involved sitting to meditate, often for hours. 

Asana yoga poses as we know them now evolved as a way to make the body limber enough and the mind focused enough to – once again – be able to sit in a crossed-legged position (easy pose, half lotus or lotus) to meditate for extended periods of time without feeling aches and pains or restlessness. 

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February 13, 2020 0 comment
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Yoga

Boost your energy & morale with these three asanas

by Lorraine C. Ladish December 26, 2019
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
Yoga poses for increased energy

Yoga isn’t only about the poses, but the poses (asanas, as they are known in Sanskrit), practiced with care, along with yogic breathing, can be beneficial for unifying mind, body and spirit.

According to Yoga International, “In the contemporary world where many of us are perpetually on the go, practice can slow us down and help us bridge disconnections between the body, mind, and breath. It can also be practiced to increase strength and flexibility, improve balance and core strength, and bring a sense of mindfulness into our everyday lives.”

Asana yoga is just one of the eight limbs of Yoga which are the following:

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December 26, 2019 0 comment
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WellnessYoga

Yes, you should give restorative yoga a try

by Lorraine C. Ladish December 11, 2019
written by Lorraine C. Ladish
I was always one of those type-A, go-go-go people. I enjoyed only the most powerful and challenging yoga flows. Otherwise, you´d find me weightlifting, running or swimming laps until my arms couldn´t take it any longer. This meant that I sustained many injuries throughout my life. It also meant that I missed out on the benefits of slowing down. When I first heard of restorative yoga and even when I took my first class, I felt I was wasting my time. My brain ran through to-do lists, and sometimes my heart pounded. I didn´t think it was any fun. Thankfully, because I'm hard-headed, I stuck with it. I read all about the benefits of easing into supported asana poses and I was determined to figure this out! Restorative yoga has since become a regular part of my asana practice, especially in the evenings, when I´m traveling, or when I´m stressed out. I still gravitate towards sweaty challenging asana flows, but restorative yoga plays a vital role in my physical, mental and emotional recovery. While some may think (as I did) of restorative yoga as something akin to taking a nap (it isn´t), as a waste of time and energy or something reserved only for people with severe physical limitations or the very elderly, restorative yoga has benefits for each and every one of us. When you enter a pose where muscles and joints are supported by props - bolsters, pillows, blocks, blankets - and you allow yourself to relax and surrender, focusing on your breath, your body and mind acquire the rest and digest response. This is the complete opposite to fight or flight mode, which is where we seem to spend most of our time in! I´m sharing only a couple of poses here. One is a heart opener, meaning it will help improve posture, breathe more easily and improve your mood while helping you relax. The other is a forward fold, which has a calming and nurturing effect. The more supported your body is, the better. Play some relaxing music while enjoying these poses. Count your breaths, focus on a mantra or simply be. Maybe diffuse some calming essential oils, like lavender, or apply them to your wrist. Now I stay in each pose for as long as I am comfortable, but at first I used to use a timer. I would set it for around 5 minutes to start with. I made sure the sound was a soothing chime so I wouldn´t be jostled out of my serene state. Read more about restorative yoga on Yoga Journal.

I was always one of those type-A, go-go-go people. I enjoyed only the most powerful and challenging yoga flows. Otherwise, you´d find me weightlifting, running or swimming laps until my muscles couldn´t take it any longer. This meant that I sustained many injuries throughout my life. It also meant that I missed out on the benefits of slowing down.

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December 11, 2019 0 comment
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About The Flawed Yogini

About The Flawed Yogini

Yoga & Wellness

I'm Lorraine C. Ladish, bilingual writer, mom, wife & yogi. I started my yoga & wellness journey at 12, with a book by Richard Hittleman. I have a huge flaw, an addictive and compulsive personality. In the long run, this turned out to be my biggest asset. I learned to channel it into leading a creative and productive life. At 58, I'm committed to sharing my journey to inspire others to channel their flaws into positive things and achieve greatness.

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