Humble Yourself With Seva Yoga

                 “There’s only one thing which will bring happiness to you. When you humble yourself and serve others, then God will fill in the gap and shall serve you. People say to me, ‘I have a light.’ People say to me, ‘I have a dharma.’ People say to me, ‘I have happiness.’ I don’t believe any of this. The test of a happy man is when he comes out and serves those who are unhappy. Only that man knows God. It is the highest privilege and honor bestowed on an ordinary man. There’s no other way on the planet to free your soul unto the destiny and unto God but by serving those who need a hand—smiling at them, wiping away their tears, forgiving them.” 

                The moment you serve with heart and head, and without grinding any ax, you win the person forever. You deliver another person facing difficulty to their own strength. You save the person in the face of calamity. You protect him in the face of non-reality and bring home the reality. In any form, shape, or projection, if you can elevate a person’s consciousness, his spirit, his self, his environments, his life, and then it is seva yoga.”

FeathererdPipe Yoga Therapy

Feathered Pipe is dedicated to providing a place for learning and serenity.  Everything we do – from the teachers we host, the service projects (seva yoga) we support, the yoga travel tours we plan, and the food we prepare – is done with the intention of cultivating our guest’s comfort.

For nearly 38 years, the Feathered Pipe Foundation has offered educational programs through our retreat and travel programs featuring the leading lights in yoga therapy, meditation and personal growth in optimal settings that inspire learning and the creative exchange of ideas. You are invited to join us on this journey of personal evolution whose purpose is to bring about the change we wish to witness in ourselves and the world.

Whether it’s within the pristine, natural, retreat settings of the Feathered Pipe Ranch here in Montana, Haramara and Blue Osa retreat centers in Mexico and Costa Rica, or via our other world yoga travel tours throughout India, South America, Southeast Asia and Europe, you are certain to find opportunity and opening to explore your potentialIn the spring we offer yoga workshops and yoga travel experiences in Mexico, Costa Rica and South America. From late spring through early fall, we are at the Feathered Pipe Ranch in Montana. Sign up for our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all our upcoming retreats and travel programs, including our yoga therapy offerings.

Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Downward-Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
This posture is great for building resistance in the abdominal muscles, along with strengthening the spine.

Step One
Rest your body on all fours, with your hands underneath your shoulders and knees aligned under the hips.
Step Two
Keep your hands and feet on the ground and push your hips outward, keeping your feet straight.
Step Three
Balance your weight on the forearms and fingers and keep your head hung low.
Step Four
Balance your weight in such a way that the bulk is removed from the arms, thereby reducing muscular strain.
Step Five
Keep your legs as straight as possible and your heels flat on the floor.
Step Six
Exhale as you relax your posture and gradually sink to your starting position.
Rest for 5 counts and repeat.

Bridge And Wheel Pose

Bridge Pose 
This pose is very helpful in burning the belly fat as well as building the muscles of the abdomen. Lie flat on your back on your yoga mat. Bend the knees and keep your feet apart from each other. Your arms should be straight by the side of your body. Now lift your torso off the ground, leaving your head, arms and feet planted right where they are. Maintain the position for a few seconds, before gradually lowering the body back on the mat. Repeat.

Modified Wheel 
Another tremendous yoga posture, this one is great for reducing belly fat too. Lie flat on your back on your yoga mat. Bend the knees and keep the feet a little apart from each other. Keep your feet and palms flat on the ground. Now lift your hips and torso up towards the ceiling. Maintain the position for a few seconds. Gently lower the body back to the ground. Repeat. Regular practice of some or all of the above positions s bound to flex our abs muscles and burn the extra flab around the belly.Repeat

Hand to Foot Pose (Padahastasana)

Hand to Foot Pose (Padahastasana)
This posture renders spinal flexibility and muscular strength along with incredible abdominal toning.

Step One
Stand straight with your arms touching your ears and stretched outward.
Step Two
As you inhale, gradually lower your torso and hands, to touch your toes. Take care not to bend your feet or knees during this process. Keep your legs straight and distribute the body weight over the balls of your feet.
Step Three
Bend as low as you can, in your attempt to touch the toes. The ideal position would have your palm flat against the floor and your torso as low as possible.
Step Four
Lower your head as close to the knees as possible.
Step Five
Exhale as you release your muscular grip and gradually rise to your starting position. Lower your hands to the sides of your body and relax for 5 counts before you begin again.

The key to master this posture is in holding the position for as long as you can. You can do the side stretches, you need to stand straight. Keep your feet apart, at the shoulder’s width. Raise one arm over your head and lean to that side as far as possible. Repeat this with the other arm. You should feel the strain on the side of your belly, since that is where the fat burns off, with the help of this exercise. Lie down straight on your back, on a yoga mat. Place a thin book or other block between your inner thighs. Now, slowly, bring your legs straight up, with the feet pointing toward the ceiling, and without the knees bending. Keeping the back pressed to the ground, maintain this position for a few seconds, before bringing the legs down without bending. Repeat.

Power Yoga

                    Power yoga is a general term used in the West to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. Most power yoga is closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice. The term "power yoga" came into common usage in the mid 1990s, when several yoga teachers were looking for a way to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to western students. Unlike Ashtanga, power yoga does not follow a set series of poses. Therefore, any power yoga class can vary widely from the next. What they have in common is an emphasis on strength and flexibility. The advent of power yoga heralded yoga's current popularity, as people began to see yoga as a way to work out. 

                The advantages of power yoga:-

a. It increases lean muscle tissue, which means improved calorie burning, reduction in your body's fat percentage and increased BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). This makes for a stronger you, leaving you with strength for your everyday life.

b. It works your stomach and back muscles constantly, increasing your core strength. This increases the heartbeat harmoniously.

c. Power yoga, like the traditional yoga, helps reduce stress and relax your body.

d. It also helps improve concentration, which is particularly good for students.

                          Yoga Retreats provide one with of the best ways of Power Yoga.

Yoga Retreats

Yoga Retreats are an opportunity to deepen your practice or even begin your practice in an intimate and nurturing environment. A weekend of yoga with delicious meals, wine and laughter. Students should be light minded and they’ll enjoy all of the comforts and amenities that you love. The yoga should be for all levels, with modifications given for newer practitioners and options for those who would like more of a challenge. Yoga Retreat should be catered specifically to students. Many students come on their own and make new and lifelong friends, some come with girlfriends, co-workers, sisters, college roommates, mothers or daughters to take a break from their busy life, laughing, relaxing and sharing stories.