You can prepare for the chaos of the holidays by addressing and releasing your emotions through hip opening. There are lots of fun variations to this pose, including back-bends (for awakening) and sitting upright (for strength). Play with it. Have fun, enjoy and share!

how to get into half pigeon pose and enjoy the holidays

Half pigeon pose is wonderful because it stretches the thighs, groins, psoas, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and the neck. It is also known to stimulate abdominal organs (which is needed this time of year), and helps to open your chest and shoulders.

Step 1: Start in a low lunge, right foot forward, back knee down.

Step 2: Walk your right foot to the left, relaxing your knee and outer shin to the mat.

Step 3: Sit up tall and square the hips.

Optional: If your hips are uneven, place a block or blanket under the right hip.

For advanced practitioners: Reach around to capture your foot to move into a back-bend, which also adds an intense release of your hips and thighs.

Last but not least: Adding a forward bend to your pigeon can also help you to relax. Forward bends turn on our parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest) and are considered cooling, calming poses.

Repeat on the other leg and keep the peace this holiday season. Namaste.

What yoga poses and exercises are keeping you calm, centered and balanced this season?

There seems no better way to maintain balance during the holidays than tree pose! The beauty of it is that you can take it to any level you desire based on your practice or how you’re feeling that day.

why tree pose is a great yoga pose for the holidays

Tree pose is an all-levels yoga pose that helps you re-centre, and maintain balance and peace within yourself.

Start standing and step your right foot onto your leg with any of these 3 options:

• "Holiday Sapling": Toes on the floor.
• "Presence” under your tree: Arch on the calf.
• The "Giving Tree": Carefully pull your foot all the way up your inner leg!

*You can place the foot anywhere and still gain all the benefits of this pose. But to protect your knee joint, please avoid the knee!

Once you've found your balance, feel free to grow your tree. Any arm variation will do from prayer at your heart for inner reflection, to growing the arm branches of your tree to the sky for jubilant celebration.

Repeat on each leg and enjoy. Namaste and healthy holidays to you and yours!

Special thanks to Ingrid for guiding me through this pose and this post.

What yoga pose keeps you centered through the holiday madness?

Thank you for giving us a space to practice yoga and take in the air with our neighbours across North America.

Namaste from Salutation Nation 2010.

Here are three different women with three different body types, all of whom love the All Out Tank. Between the three of us, we have used this tank for yoga, bootcamp, running, and dance, so don't worry about where to wear it, we found a lot of places where this tank performs well.

pear body type

Having a smaller chest (A-, B+ cup on a good day) and waist, and an athletic badonk, this personally is one of my favourite tops.  This tank frames my figure, and adds a bit of oomph upstairs.  I also love how this top hugs my waist without suffocating it, and then bells out a bit at the bottom so to not cut me off at my hips.  My hips are smoothly elongated into my torso, and your eyes are not distracted by two different halves of my body. I am 5'7" and am wearing a size 8 in the All Out Tank, and this is my normal size in tops.

petite body type

My friend Heather is 5'6" and a size 6 in both tops and bottoms, her figure is petite and fairly straight. The All Out Tank works really well for her in yoga. This tank enhances what she has, and she loves it for this very reason.

athletic body type

Last but not least, Anna is 5'9", she wears a 6 in tops and between a 6-8 in bottoms, and has an athletic and slender body type. Anna is almost a happy medium from my body type to Heather's. The All Out Tank is Anna's favourite for Barry's Bootcamp and yoga.

details

I love the bust and neckline of this top. I think it fits many different chests in different ways, but I find it to be very flattering.

The All Out Tank fits very similarly to the older Athletic Deep V tank, with the updated feature of a more relaxed bust-line that you can adjust to your comfort.

If you are looking for a flattering tank, that can perform in many different activities, the All Out Tank might be what you're looking for. To that I have too add, if you have a larger bust like a D and above, then I would try something like the Inner Strength Tank, Run: Sunrise Tank, or even a Cool Racerback.

Happy sweating and Namaste.

Pear Body Type Fit Guru, Whitney (me) is 5'7" and is wearing:

• An All Out Tank in Senorita Pink in a size 8 (stayed true to size and the colour is not available online)
• Groove Pants in Black in a size 6 (stayed true to size)

Petite Body Type Fit Guru, Heather is 5'6" and is wearing:

• An All Out Tank in Lagoon in a size 6 (stayed true to size)
• Groove Pants in Black in a size 6 (stayed true to size)

Athletic Body Type Fit Guru, Anna is 5'9" and is wearing:

• An All Out Tank in Lagoon in a size 6 (stayed true to size)
• Groove Pants in Black in a size 6 (stayed true to size)

Why we made the All Out Tank:

• Adjust your bust with this all sport tank
• Made with luon on bust for max support and a luon light on the body for breathability
• Bra constructed on the outside for customized fit and no abrasion on the inside
• Mesh bra construction with built in pockets for removable cups
• Mesh back allows for max breathability in those high sweat areas