The UpDown journal

Notes for people who move

Short, alignment-based practices for tight backs, busy minds, and strong bodies, plus honest notes from the front of the room. Come as you are.

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Mobility · New

Morning yoga for a tight back

You woke up stiff, not broken. A slow 10-minute sequence to free your hips and lower back before your coffee.

4 min readRead the post
Calm & recovery

Yoga to reset your nervous system

Six gentle poses and one long exhale to switch your body out of go mode and quiet a racing mind.

4 min readRead
Props & tools

How to use a yoga wheel for beginners

New to the wheel? Eight slow, supported exercises that decompress a tight back without scaring your spine.

4 min readRead
Mobility

Yoga for desk workers

Seven stretches you can do right in your chair to undo the neck and shoulder tension that builds by mid-afternoon.

4 min readRead
For athletes

Yoga for runners

The hips, hip flexors, and knees that running quietly tightens, and seven post-run poses that keep you moving for years.

4 min readRead
Calm & recovery

Legs up the wall, and 4 more poses for sleep

Legs up the wall and four more floor poses that tell your nervous system the day is over, so sleep can come.

4 min readRead
Teacher training

Is a 200-hour YTT worth it?

An honest answer from someone who trains teachers: when a 200-hour YTT pays off, and when to wait.

5 min readRead
Teacher training

How to sequence a yoga class

Sequencing that flows every time. The SMART framework, five phases from arrival to savasana, with a free template.

4 min readRead
For athletes

Yoga for lifters

Strong but stiff? A focused 10-minute routine to open shoulders, hips, and spine so you lift through a fuller range.

4 min readRead
Teacher training

How to cue a yoga class

Three rules and five borrowable cues to help nervous new teachers find calm, clear authority at the front of the room.

4 min readRead
Mobility

Yoga for tight hips

Eight poses that create lasting change, not just temporary relief, with alignment cues that actually matter.

9 min readRead
Calm & recovery

Nervous system yoga

You cannot stretch your way to calm. Why your breath is the most powerful regulation tool in your practice.

10 min readRead
Aerial

Aerial yoga for beginners

What to expect, the real benefits, five beginner poses with cues, and how to start safely in your first hammock class.

10 min readRead
Aerial

What is acro yoga?

A beginner guide to partner yoga: the three roles, what your first class feels like, and how to start safely.

10 min readRead
Aerial

How to set up an aerial hammock at home

Freestanding rig options, hammock height, and a safe, step-by-step home setup walkthrough.

8 min readRead
Props & tools

Yoga wheel for back pain

Seven wheel exercises for real relief: thoracic rolling, spinal decompression, and psoas release.

11 min readRead
Props & tools

Yoga wheel vs. foam roller

Which is better for your back? The real differences, and when to reach for each one.

8 min readRead
Teacher training

The alignment cue that changed how I teach

The one cue given in almost every class, and why it changed not just teaching but how students move.

8 min readRead
Teacher training

How to find your voice as a teacher

If your classes feel like a performance, something is off. What it takes to teach as yourself.

6 min readRead