Featuring Brittany McKay of Hamsa Power Yoga

BY AVA BOURBEAU

If you roll over in bed in the morning and blindly pat around for your phone before you even wipe the sleep from your eyes, then keep reading this is for you. If you sit at a desk all day only moving to pour into your coffee cup while energy drains out of you, then keep reading this is for you. If you live an active lifestyle, but you’re always pulling this muscle or rolling that joint, then keep reading this is for you.

There’s a preconception that yoga can only take place in a mirror-lined room wearing a matching workout set, but we’re here to share with you how you can incorporate a yoga practice into your everyday life. Whether you’re a dedicated yogi and want a few fallback poses for when you’re at home, or you’re new to the yoga practice and need a place to start, this is for you.

When Brittany McKay, co-owner of Hamsa Power Yoga in Jupiter, came to the practice of yoga, she was struggling with depression, trauma and chronic back pain. Through mindful movement in yoga, she was able to heal. “Yoga saved my physical health, which saved my mental health,” she said. That’s obviously the short version of a nuanced story.

Fast forward to now, and her mission is creating a yoga community that makes people feel deeply embraced and acknowledged. Hamsa was created out of that purpose. Brittany and Jamie Tarasuk, friend and now business partner, opened Hamsa in 2019 and have been unwavering in establishing a studio free of judgment, gossip, and expectations. Instructors take part in inclusivity training, and the studio’s mantra is “Yoga for Every Body.” The goal? To take the exclusivity out of the wellness movement.

We at Atlantic Current were lucky enough to work with Brittany to create a curated day of yoga flows for our readers and if you bring in your copy of the mag, you will receive a free yoga class at Hamsa. So, there’s nothing holding you back from hitting the mat.

5.

Note: Practicing backbends can help relieve back pain by lengthening the psoas muscle and releasing lower back tension. The

Both legs are engaged and back heel is lifted. Stretches hip flexors, balances and grounds. Improves core stability, hip flexor mobility and ankle mobility. Note: Can be a modification of Warrior One (where the back edge of the foot is grounded) for ankle mobility

4. Warrior Two: We know you’ve seen this one before. Stretches hips and shoulders, opens chest and lungs.

5. Half-Moon: Front hand reaches to frame foot while back leg lifts and hips stack.

Option: Place a block on the ground under your front hand Note: Holding poses that work your core can relieve lower back pain

6. Yogi Squat: Pull shoulders back, lift from crown of the head, gently use triceps to open legs. Stretches the ankles, calves, knees, groin and hips.

Option: Place a block under your butt or do the pose on your back against the wall.

7. Camel: On your knees, place hands on lower back or calves and push your hips forward while squeezing your glutes.

Note: Anxiety during camel is normal. Leaning the head back and exposing the throat can trigger a fight or flight response. Acknowledge the fear, and feel free to do camel without the neck extension.

4. Pigeon: Bend one leg in front of you while extending the other back

Option: Bend your back knee for an added quad stretch (as pictured)

5. Fish: Place hands under your butt and arch backwards with legs extended. This pose extends your back and neck after a day of hunching over.

Option: Pair traditional fish pose with Lotus legs (as pictured) to further open hips

6. Reclined Butterfly: Press feet against each other and lie back

7. Meditation: Take this time, however is comfortable to you