Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife, New York, NY (2025)

08/05/2025

Teaching EVERY Thurs this month of Aug EST/7pm PST 💻. This Thursday’s class is “Unique Plank Practice” which, is pretty self explanatory and we’ll cover lots of different variants of this posture, unique arm balances and adequate inversions. Lots of strengthening and drills to cover the front, back and sides of this versatile pose.
Sign up on my site, cyogalife.com and practice with my library to get to places you didn’t think possible in a safe & fun way👌🏻.
In Sept I’ll start traveling again so I’ll be in & out a lot (more out than in…). Come while I’m here and let’s have a great summer together ☀️⛱️🧘🏻‍♀️🤸🏻 !

✈️
Also, here’s where I’ll be teaching in person this fall:
🇰🇷 Seongnam: Sept 5-7, 20hr TT
🇰🇷 Busan: Sept 12-14, 20hr TT
🇸🇬Singapore: Sept 25-28, workshop & intensive
🇲🇽 Mexico City: Oct 9-12, workshops & training .yogashala (en español 🇪🇸!!!)
🇮🇹 Cesena, IT: Oct 31-Nov 2, workshops
🇬🇷 Athens: Nov 5-9, 40hr yoga + hstands + adjustments + mobility
🇪🇸 Madrid: Nov 14-16, workshops (en español 🇪🇸!!!)

For more info on any of these, head to cyogalife.com 🔥.

07/25/2025

about this AI frenzy and how it’ll integrate in the yoga environment:
🤖 How much do you think AI is going to affect the yoga landscape?
🤖 Is it going to replace the role of a teacher completely?
🤖 How do you see yoga evolving in the next 10 years?
We’re already downloading meditations apps, workout drills, yoga apps, I mean, we ARE going in that direction but, is the “human touch” THAT invaluable?

Interested to know your POV on this topic so, feel free to comment below👇🏻!

06/28/2025

Day 28 of : variant
First of all, BIG congrats for reaching the finish line 🥳🎉 It wasn’t easy and, at least for me, the physical challenge is not as big as the time commitment and the mental aspect so, regardless of how “deep” you went, it’s already a WIN! 📖🙌🏻.
One last day, if you with me, the perfect class is 💻 #127: “New Dhanurasanas to add to your practice”, which will explain in depth the different elements, give you variants and offer drills to incorporate into your routine. A quick review:
🧚🏻‍♂️ if you “roll out”, practice this with a wall, sofa, or even a yoga wheel, under the belly. Chest needs to be high enough so you don’t roll back out, but not so high that you choke either;
🧚🏻‍♂️ if the feet are too far, you can use straps, one around each foot, rock forward & grab them with your hands.
🧚🏻‍♂️ the closer hands to feet, the easier you’ll be able to pull forward. Think of your spine like a long, thick spring that’s being squeezed. When you send legs over, the spring will lose some of that compression, so it’ll “propel” you forward. Work on shortening that distance and it’ll be easier to rock forward;
🧚🏻‍♂️ to do the rocking, go back/forth a few times (“rock the boat”), each time aiming for more lift onto your thighs. Think of sending legs overhead, parallel to floor, as far over as you can, arms pretty straight. Pull feet down & away from head like in the pic;
🧚🏻‍♂️ to let go of 1 of your feet, first draw them closer together, switch one arm, so you grab with both hands the same foot, then let the free one start to go “back” to a vertical line;
🧚🏻‍♂️ rock out as smoothly as possible (no fast whipping out!);
Hope you got some breakthroughs and PLEASE, comment below if you finished and what your favorite poses were👍🏻! It’ll help me curate future challenges 🙃… BIG thanks to my incredible helpers & .moves ❤️❤️. Show them some love as well and practice their alternative if that suits you better! Much love to all and see you on the next one 😉!
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com

06/27/2025

Day 27 of : or in Forearm or variant
Interesting inversion to work on today👌🏻. If you’re practicing with me online, click ▶️ on class 💻 #115 “Dropping into the Wheel world” to see different alternatives, props’ uses, how to get there and adjust it to your personal needs. Let’s take a look at it first:
🥨 this is a big shoulder opener & lumbar strengthener so, both elements should be covered at length before attempting it;
🥨 for shoulder limitations, one of my go-to poses is: kick into Pincha facing a wall, tuck legs, rest toes on it & open shoulders up & away from it. Remember to lift scaps into ears first, THEN pass chest through arms AND maintain the position there 30-60 secs;
🥨 for lumbar issues, my fav one is: kick into Pincha further from wall, toes touching it, head down, open shoulders like described above, slide feet down wall as your chest gradually opens. Keep legs as straight as possible at all times;
🥨 for both options described, the lighter the touch, the better you’ll be doing. Aim to rest on the wall like a butterfly on a flower. Channel that inner butterfly 🦋…;
🥨 the Lotus adds a new dimension to your flexors. You can do just 1 leg at a time in Half Lotus, or crossed legged, if full Lotus isn’t an option. Legs bent like that will be more challenging for hip extension, but easier to control for your lumbar & balancing skills;
🥨 you also won’t go as far with legs bent, you’ll have to consciously bend more from shoulders & upper spine, versus allowing the weight of the legs to “push” you deeper into it;
🥨 go only to the point where you can safely retrace your steps and come out safely (no whipping out of it, I mean that!!).
For a more manageable option, check & .moves and do their alternative.
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧘🏻🤸🏻‍♀️

06/26/2025

Day 26 of : or variant
This is serious business. I strongly recommend you to it with me with class 💻 #127: “New Dhanurasanas to add to your practice”. It’ll break things down and will guide safely as we navigate these rough waters. Read these before unrolling your mat:
💡 break down this pose in the 2 main elements: being able to grab feet, & lifting up enough to balance on your thighs (not the belly);
💡 if you want to focus on the lumbar strength: recreate the feeling so that your body starts to do the neurological mapping & the necessary muscles are being called out SO, using props like a rolled blanket in front, a wall behind (to land feet on), or 2 straps/bands to pull you higher, are an amazing starting point;
💡 if you want to focus on the bind: different variants of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana prior to this, as well as some Wheels, walking hands towards feet. You can also do this same pose, chest on the wall. That way you won’t have to work that hard to stay up and your arms will be free to move around, flip the grip and pull feet to head;
💡 overall, this is an arch that needs consistency so, if you’re serious about it, you need to SHOW IT by practicing it every day you do bbends. I usually do it towards the end of mine, so that I make sure I’ve covered all the basis to have a good shot;
💡it’s more important to feel comfortable and calm your nervous system, than anything else. When you’re calmed, your spine will soften and you’ll be able to arch from the area you want, instead of from the weakest one. The moment you start losing your breath, you won’t go much further so, that should be your guiding light throughout the whole process. Approach this with patience and humor🙃.
For a much needed alternative😅, remember to check & .moves
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧘🏻🤸🏻‍♀️

06/25/2025

Day 25 of : Supine or
Excellent twist & supine pose to unwind from your practice. For those practicing with me, you know we do this ALL the time, but head to class #391 “Lunging Backbends & how to avoid the shin drop” to work those flexors & lumbar region in a mild and progressive way. Few things to play with today:
📍 twist hip & leg first, pin those down using opposite hand, then twist ribcage/shoulder & arm in the opposite direction. If arm is dangling too high off ground, allow leg to come out of the twist 10-20%. That’ll give more weight to the arm and the stretch will feel more even;
📍pin down first the arm/scapula/upper ribs then twist leg away from them only to a point where arm is not hiking up. Notice the different sensations in these 2 stretches. What you immobilize first will determine where you’re getting the stretch.
Other ideas to try:
📍different leg positions: both tucked, legs crossed, wrap them in Eagle Pose, do a figure 4…;
📍different arm angles: arm higher than shoulder width to target more pecs, lower to make it less intense, palm facing up or down, putting a small weight in the hand & try to lift it etc;
📍tuck pelvis, then slightly arch lumbar. Notice how that also affects what areas you’re lengthening and what’s your default mode when you’re in this pose;
📍activate external obliques & intercostals by doing this pose with your free hand under a couch or with a very heavy weight. Alternate engaging for a few secs, then release. Repeat x5-8. This is a VERY useful strength to cultivate for inversions (especially handstands), side planks and arm balances.
Play with this for at least 5 min on each side and notice how happy your back is afterwards👍🏻.
For other options & ideas to incorporate, check out & .moves
To practice LIVE with me from home🏠 visit https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧘🏻🤸🏻‍♀️

12/27/2023

🤖🎄👋🏼 Day 2️⃣7️⃣ of with ➡️ variant 👋🏼🎄🤖
The last pose from October’s was the last pose that month and one of the milestones of a good practice. I wanted to leave you with something really meaningful before I took my long break… This backbend is one of those you can constantly improve, no matter how long you’ve been practicing. Those of you subscribed, head to class #277💻 “Learning to breathe in Chin Scorpion” for a thorough warm up, careful breakdown and different props’ uses to support your journey. Read these before starting:
♏️ there’s a lot of internal work happening that can’t be explained in a post (class will help with that). The first priority is to make your bend so that you can STAY and breathe comfortably. If that means using blocks or a wall in front, so be it;
♏️ as you project legs over, think of them resting on a sofa, then “slide” them across the top and extend. Repeat the process 4-5 times, going each one a little deeper. This visual will help tremendously with this final shape;
♏️ if legs reach out a lot, arms can fold like in the pic, even lift up. Just make sure to remain anchored through chest, sternum and shoulder top.
The nervous system and how to deal with the idea of holding your weight on the neck and shoulders is something that’ll happen gradually, as your flexibility & endurance increase, hang in there, literally! This is not everyone’s cup of tea (and that’s ok!) so, if you’re in that group, head to my amazing helpers & .moves for a more doable alternative🙌🏻. Thank you Katy and Christine for the amazing work you’ve been doing this month and SO MANY months, for so many years… but more acknowledgements tomorrow, on our final day 💚!!

🔖Find today’s pose & more in class #277: “Learning to breathe in Chin Scorpion”
Practice with me from home🏠 by visiting https://www.cyogalife.com
🔥🧘🏻🏋🏻‍♀️📬

Carmen Aguilar - cyogalife

08/05/2025

07/25/2025

06/28/2025

06/27/2025

06/26/2025

06/25/2025

12/27/2023

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