Name that Yoga Pose!

Really fun class this morning. I started getting pose requests before I even asked for them (I had announced last week that I was in the mood, these days, to base classes around what people asked for). In the middle of class, someone called me over to request Reclined Pigeon, and I took a poll while people were in Downward Dog to see if people wanted that to be their next pose. Hands went up, while holding the pose. I was looking for a verbal response, but that was good enough, if a bit dangerous for one's balance!

The body part requests were: neck, core, and hamstrings. A very interesting mix, and one I'm not sure I've had before. The lady who requested core work had come with her friend, who was born with a separated abdomen (much like is experienced by some women post-pregnancy) and said, "Are you trying to kill me?!" I gave her tons of modifications to make sure that during the core exercises she wasn't straining her lower back instead of developing connective muscles.

I'm always looking for new core exercises as my Power classes seem to be big fans, too. What's your favorite pose to strengthen the core?

Name that Yoga Pose!

Any and all recommendations about core poses will be used during my next Power class, and you will receive all the compliments and complaints from sore-bellied students. 

1. Start class on back, legs bent towards ceiling
2. Taking hands behind neck, beginning crunches. Exhale as you come up, inhale to release towards floor, 12x
3. Take both knees to one side in twist. Repeat crunches on both sides 12x each
4. Take hands under legs, rolling along spine
5. Roll up to seated
6. Ardha Ustrasana (Half Camel), taking hand to opposite ankle, alternating between sides until warm
7. Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
8. Cat/cow in table pose
9. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
10. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog Pose). Hold for 5-10 breaths, moving hips and shifting with breath
11. Garbasana (Child's Pose)
12. Adho Mukha Svanasana
13. Plank Pose. Hold for 1-3 minutes, or longer if possible
14. Lower to stomach
15. Ardha Navasana (Half Boat Pose, version of boat on stomach). Alternate between sides until very warm
16. Garbasana
17. Navasana (Boat Pose)
18. Garbasana
19. Adho Mukha Svanasana
20. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
21. Garundasana (Eagle Pose). Repeat other side
22. Natarajasana (Dancer's Pose). Repeat other side
23. Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III)
24. Step back into Warrior I
25. Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II)
26. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
27. Virabhadrasana II
28. Vinyasa to low lunge
29. Step up into Virabhadrasana III
30. Repeat steps 23-27
31. Vinyasa to ground
32. Eagle Crunches: Lying on back, take arms and legs into Eagle pose. Inhale, extend arms and legs away from each other; exhale, squeeze them towards each other. Repeat 12x on both sides
33. Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
34. Supta Matsyendrasana (Reclined Twist Pose). Repeat other side
35. Savasana