Yoga with weights?! Really?!? I know some people are really opposed to yoga with weights. I admit that there was a time that I felt the same way, but if you think about it, weights are only props. Just like we use mats, blocks, straps, bolsters, walls, chairs and blankets, we can use weights to get the most out of our practices when appropriate. The purpose of asana practice is to balance and hone the physical body to be a channel to connect to our mental and spiritual bodies, and weights when used correctly can definitely align with that purpose. With that said, here is a short video of a great utthita trikonasana (triangle pose) flow using weights to help build strong stable shoulders.

Here's a video of one of my favorite yoga transitions to increase shoulder mobility and stability all in one shot. Check out the video below.

A fellow yoga teacher, Sarah, recently asked me about helping to release upper trapezius tension with the "block dock" technique created by Lillee Chandra from Yoga Tune Up.