Forrest Yoga

Ana Forrest derived her practice from some aspects of Sivananda yoga, along with attention to alignment and use of props found in Iyengar yoga, and the heat and flowing sequences of Ashtanga (vinyasa) yoga. As the style evolved, she created a number of additional poses and sequences adapted to modern society,{{cite news |last=Forrest |first=Ana |title=Firefly, Frog and other Yoga Positions Good Aloft |work=The New York Times |date=20 June 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/business/20flier.html}} such as wrist stretches to prevent and relieve carpal tunnel syndrome.{{cite book |last=McCall |first=Timothy |title=Yoga as Medicine:the Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing |year=2007 |publisher=Bantam Dell |isbn=978-0-553-38406-2 |pages=237–238}} She also created shoulder shrugs to relieve tension and loosen the upper back,{{cite web |last=Passy |first=Barbara |title=Shrugs: A Pose for all Seasons and Reasons |publisher=Yoga Chicago |date=May 2014 |url=http://yogachicago.com/2014/05/shrugs-a-pose-for-all-reasons-and-seasons}} abdominal exercises to tone internal organs and strengthen the lower back, and some poses using a folded over and rolled up yoga mat. Forrest personally practices aspects of Hatha yoga not widely taught in modern yoga as exercise; her skill at the shatkarma nauli is featured on the Nauli.org site.{{cite web |title=About Nauli.org |url=https://www.nauli.org/about-2/ |publisher=Nauli.org (non-profit) |access-date=19 August 2019 |quote=Abdomen at the top of the page [12 photos]: Ana Forrest |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121225409/https://www.nauli.org/about-2/ |url-status=dead }}

Forrest Yoga classes are conducted in a warm room ({{convert|85|F|disp=comma}}){{cite web |last=Dobbyn |first=Paula |title=Ana Forrest: Rock star of the yoga world |url=http://www.anchoragepress.com/news/ana-forrest-rock-star-of-the-yoga-world/article_389d9b30-ed65-11e1-8546-001a4bcf887a.html |publisher=Anchorage Press |access-date=30 August 2012 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116211645/http://www.anchoragepress.com/news/ana-forrest-rock-star-of-the-yoga-world/article_389d9b30-ed65-11e1-8546-001a4bcf887a.html |url-status=dead }} and begin with pranayama, then move through seated poses and abdominal muscle exercises before arriving at the "hot part" of the class that might involve sun salutations, standing poses, inversions, backbends and other asanas that build up to the more challenging "apex" poses. The poses are sustained, intensively and contemplatively, sometimes for 10 deep breaths, sometimes for several minutes.{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2010/01/21/introduction_to_yoga_is_a_breath_of_fresh_air/?page=2 |title=Om my! |last=Liu |first=Christine |date=21 January 2010 |work=Boston Globe |access-date=13 August 2012}}

Forrest Yoga's vision and mission, inspired by the life of Black Elk, a healer and Medicine Man of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, is "to mend the rainbow hoop of the people".{{rp|257}} Smith, Eva Norlyk, "Creating Embodiment: An Interview with Ana Forrest", Huffington Post, February 12, 2015, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-norlyk-smith-phd/ana-forrest-creating-embo_b_6654906.html]{{rp|171}} In this style, healing is meant to extend to the emotional body, directing the breath into affected parts of the body to release emotions.Steffensen, Sharon, "Ana Forrest: Mending the Hoop of the People", Yoga Chicago, November/December 2003, p. 12{{cite news |last=Tang |first=Vivienne |author-link=Vivienne Tang |date=2009-05-09 |title=How Ana Forrest Transformed Addiction and Abuse Through Yoga |url=https://destinationdeluxe.com/ana-forrest-yoga/ |access-date=2019-08-16 |publisher=Destination Deluxe}} Forrest was certified as a yoga teacher when aged 18. She is trained in Native American medicine, reiki, and regression therapy. She has studied alternative healing techniques including homeopathy, naturopathy, reflexology, shiatsu, and chiropractic, all of which, she states, inform her work.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.forrestyoga.com/about |publisher=Forrest Yoga |access-date=15 May 2019}}

The style claims to be founded on four principles, or "pillars":

1. Breath, to help connect in feeling with one's body and ignite passion for living
2. Strength, via intense core sequences and long holds of poses that generate heat and heighten the senses
3. Integrity, in working with the edges of one's practice, particularly around physical and emotional injuries, developing tools to deal with fear and struggle
4. Spirit, to create a sense of freedom and "courage to walk as your Spirit dictates"{{cite web |last=Forrest |first=Ana |title=Forrest Yoga Philosophy |url=http://www.forrestyoga.com/about/philosophy.php |publisher=Mossy Knolls |access-date=21 November 2011}}

Forrest Yoga's physical practice uses some "basic moves" in every pose up until Savasana.{{cite journal |last=Williams |first=Meliss B. |title=Yoga for Healing |journal=Fit Yoga |date=February 2006 |page=22}} Many of these moves resemble those practiced in other yoga styles, such as Ujjayi breath and tucking the tailbone, while others are unique to this style, particularly the practice of relaxing the neck and wrapping the shoulders. Overall emphasis is on breath work and core strengthening.{{cite news |last=Baginski |first=Laura |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/275428341.html?dids=275428341:275428341&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+08%2C+2003&author=LAURA+BAGINSKI&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Be+a+swinger+%3B+Treadmills+have+you+running+in+circles%3F+Try+these+offbeat+ways+to+get+in+shape.&pqatl=google |title=Be a swinger; Treadmills have you running in circles? Try these offbeat ways to get in shape |date=8 January 2003 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=13 August 2012 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306215417/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/419695333.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Jan%2008%2C%202003&author=LAURA%20BAGINSKI&pub=Chicago%20Tribune&edition=&startpage=&desc=Be%20a%20swinger%20&%20Treadmills%20have%20you%20running%20in%20circles%3F%20Try%20these%20offbeat%20ways%20to%20get%20in%20shape. |url-status=dead }}

1. Active Hands and Feet, spreading the hand bones wide and extending the fingers fully, and pressing through heels and balls of feet and lifting the toes{{cite journal |last=Forrest |first=Ana |title=Choosing Healing is the Ultimate Warrior Action |journal=Origin Magazine |issue=December/January 2012 |date=2012 |pages=22–23}}
2. Tuck Tailbone, to lengthen tailbone downward and relieve pressure on the lower back
3. Telescope Ribs, placing hands on lower part of rib cage and inhaling to lift ribcage away from belly
4. Expand Ribs
5. Wrap Shoulders
6. Relax Neck
7. Deep breathing{{cite news |last=Forrest |first=Ana |title=Healing PTSD Through a New Kind of Yoga |work=Huffington Post |date=15 May 2011 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ana-forrest/yoga-ptsd_b_862188.html |access-date=21 August 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.forrestyoga.com Official Website]

{{Yoga as exercise}}

{{Asana}}

Category:Yoga schools

Category:Alternative medicine