Hot26 Yoga Guanacaste

Happy birthday to me!!!! After the suspenseful pause - when in my IG stories, I alluded to something big coming - it’s nearly upon us!! Will you join my free class this Tuesday? It would make my day 🥳🧘🏼‍♀️🎉🧘🏼‍♀️🪩🧘🏼‍♀️🎁🧘🏼‍♀️Please tag your friends and spread the word 🙏🫶🤙

Every Tuesday and Friday at Pole de Mar in the Huacas shopping center Paseo del Mar! Please contact me in advance to secure your space. Drop-ins accepted when there is space so be sure to reserve your spot!

Class cancelled whilst everyone’s outta town! Enjoy the break and see you 9th April 🧘🏼‍♀️

Look carefully next time you go to Playa Grande… you may find me camouflaged amongst the palms…. 🌴🌴🌴😂

Get 20% off at Happy Pineapple using my code STELAC if you want to steal my look! Great material to sweat in here in the tropics.





Photo cred: .wolfe

Treat yourself to a one-hour hot yoga session on Tuesdays AND Fridays! Starting February 2024. Location: DM me for more info!

First class at tomorrow! See you there!

Ashtanga London 🤩 what an experience

Day 8 – Backbend

I have just realized that I did the ALO challenge on December 1-8 in 2021!! How much has changed since then, and yet my Camel looks exactly the same. At the same time, I feel a lot more comfortable both in front of and behind the camera, although I know I have a long way to go. I’m thankful that I have gained the confidence to post to this account! You know it’s difficult to put yourself out there. Thank you to ALO and all of you beautiful hosts for this challenge!

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
✅🎁 Day 3 Spinal Twist
✅🎁 Day 4 Chest Opener
✅🎁 Day 5 Hips Opener
✅🎁 Day 6 Quads Stretch
✅🎁 Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
✅🎁 Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 7 – Hamstring stretch – the main reason I like this Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose is because I can do it. If I try to do it on the ground, I can’t really reach forward very well. So the gravity element is really helpful. And I’m thankful for my daughter, who loves to run up and jump on my back when I do this pose 😊 So peaceful… Well, I’m sure I’ll miss it one day!

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
✅🎁 Day 3 Spinal Twist
✅🎁 Day 4 Chest Opener
✅🎁 Day 5 Hips Opener
✅🎁 Day 6 Quads Stretch
✅🎁 Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 6 – Quad stretch. Returning to the series where there is a fantastic quad stretch as part of Supta-Vajrasana, also known as Fixed Firm pose in the series, or Reclined Hero pose, or Reclined Thunderbolt pose. I love the stages of this pose. First, you ask your ankles to straighten out and lie flat on the ground. Then, your knees need to cooperate such that they allow your hips to touch the ground. Finally, your front-body needs to open up. Your quads, your chest, your neck! Today I am thankful for my teachers at , who have taught me so much over the last few years, especially and Jennette, who took me through my yoga training! Love you ♥️

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
✅🎁 Day 3 Spinal Twist
✅🎁 Day 4 Chest Opener
✅🎁 Day 5 Hips Opener
✅🎁 Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 5 – Time to open those hips. This is a huge struggle for most people, whether they know it or not. Did you know that you store emotions in your hips? Sometimes I get a really good cry from a yoga class, who’s with me?? I understand that it has to do with your hips. I do not have “open hips,” and the pain in my lower back is related to this. So, with this simple low lunge pose, I’m working on my tight hip flexors – even more when I bend my back leg towards me. One day I hope to manage some more complicated shapes! Until then, I am thankful for good friends who are there for me when I need holding, who love me despite my many imperfections, and who inspire me. You know who you are ♥️

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
✅🎁 Day 3 Spinal Twist
✅🎁 Day 4 Chest Opener
✅🎁 Day 5 Hips Opener
Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 4 – Chest Opener Day! I absolutely love this pose, which I have experienced at a beautiful yoga class with at Mar Vista! I am not sure of the name – shoulder pigeon? Arm pigeon? Can someone tell me? You lie on your stomach, make your arms like a cactus. Then lift your right leg up, and flip it over behind you. Use your right arm to help push you up, but leave your left arm at a 90 degree cactus on the floor. Ooooh the stretch it gives you. It feels so good!!

Today I’m thankful for Jacinda, my yoga teacher friend at – check her out!

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
✅🎁 Day 3 Spinal Twist
✅🎁 Day 4 Chest Opener
Day 5 Hips Opener
Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 3 – Back to my main squeeze for the from the series. Let me explain how to do this: Bend your right knee on the floor in front of you, and put your left foot over your right knee. Stretch your right arm over your left knee, and grab your right knee. Then sit up tall, and grab your right thigh with your left hand! It’s a little bit like Simon Says… but anyway I still cannot grab my knee around my leg, despite many, many attempts. I’m inspired by the hosts in this challenge and the flexibility they teach and seemingly so effortlessly practice!

I love how this spine twist makes me feel at the end of a class. I am thankful to be able to live my life without pain, which I attribute to yoga practice.

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
✅🎁 Day 3 Spinal Twist
Day 4 Chest Opener
Day 5 Hips Opener
Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 2 – I have some seriously work to do on my shoulders. So, I looked to for inspiration and found her Pincha series Day 2 flexibility a good starting point! Here is a simple puppy pose to gently start the process of opening my shoulders. Feels so good!

Today I am thankful that I am able to travel to both the US and the UK this winter to see ALLLLL my family! Although, I find flexibility work is easier to do in a tropical climate – do you agree?

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
✅🎁 Day 2 Open Shoulders
Day 3 Spinal Twist
Day 4 Chest Opener
Day 5 Hips Opener
Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Day 1 – I chose the standard 26&2 Cobra pose to start off this challenge, and I set up a little beach scene 🏄‍♀️ behind me 😊 Today, and every day, I am thankful to live in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where life is and the weather is !

This cobra pose focusses on the muscles around your lower spine. You really squeeze your legs together and use your back muscles to lift your upper body up off of the ground. It helped me gain strength and get out of pain.

Pose Line Up:
✅🎁Day 1 Neck Stretch
Day 2 Open Shoulders
Day 3 Spinal Twist
Day 4 Chest Opener
Day 5 Hips Opener
Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and

Recently I have realized that I need to branch out from my standard 90-minute 26&2 class. After 2 years of nearly daily practice, I’m adding weight training and flexibility drills to see how it changes my body! As part of this I have decided to join in the latest ALO challenge:


1-8 Dec 2023

We know the holidays can be stressful, but this December we invite you to open yourself to a season of giving. No matter what you celebrate, we want you to end the year by spreading love and giving thanks. Each day we ask you to explore an opening pose, and share something you’re thankful for (no matter how big or how small).

Hosts:



hafsa


Sponsors: and
One winner will receive a $100 USD Alo Yoga gift card and 6 free months of Alo Moves.

Pose Line Up:
Day 1 Neck Stretch
Day 2 Open Shoulders
Day 3 Spinal Twist
Day 4 Chest Opener
Day 5 Hips Opener
Day 6 Quads Stretch
Day 7 Hamstrings Stretch
Day 8 Backbend

How to participate:
1. Follow all hosts and sponsors.
2. Repost the flyer to your page and tag a few friends
3. Look to the hosts pages for daily pose inspiration.
4. Post daily using and don’t forget to tag your hosts and sponsor in the caption.
5. Have fun and make sure your profile is set to public so we can see your posts in the gallery!

I'm guilty of this!! Some days I'm tired, or sore, or I just don't feel like practicing. But if I decide to go for it, I always, always, always... feel better. Can you relate?

We live in such a material world, especially today. I know the deals are on and you're going to buy it anyway! So let me suggest another way of doing without: intermittent fasting. That's right - just not eating anything for a few extra hours today.

As someone guilty of "getting hangry," this was a revelation for me - but the health benefits are many and the downside is nil!

I may have overindulged yesterday so today I'm going to give my digestive system a break. Will you join me?

Whether you are with your family or celebrating Friendsgiving - or maybe you live in a country where Thanksgiving isn't celebrated - I wish you a beautiful day to consider all that you have!

Today I am thankful to be with my family. I've realised that since I don't see them very often, I appreciate it more when I do.

I'm also thankful that I get to practice Inferno Hot Pilates today! 🔥🔥 It makes me feel soooo good!

Here is your reminder to work on yourself first! This quote really resonated with me. As we approach Thanksgiving, and consider all that we have - will you find peace within yourself?

I’m in the Chicago suburbs in the coooold! 🥶 Missing el Sol y el Calor. It’s amazing how much the heat makes me feel so much better and my body moves better! I especially need a spine twist to make my body feel ready for the day. So I’m just over here… going to for my Bikram yoga fix… and tried my first inferno hot Pilates class yesterday! Looooved it.

Did you know that most people only use the top part of their lungs to breathe? Our bodies deserve better! It deserves more oxygen! Do you know what it feels like to really breathe, big inhales and big exhales, for 5 minutes?

Enter Pranayama Breathing exercise - good for your lungs and respiratory system! All 26 & 2 classes commence here. It's a great way to wake up your body and get yourself feeling energised!

Give it a go! Try not to rock back and forwards, but maintain your body weight back into your heels as you go. And relax your shoulders! Happy breathing!

Psssst... your shoulders will eventually get used to the movement, please don't despair if you can't do this on the first try!

I'm an online (zoom) yogi doing the same 26&2 yoga every day. People ask me - isn't it boring? But every day it feels different, I protest. And anyway - my back doesn't hurt when I lie in bed and attempt to roll over. Or when I bend forward to brush my teeth. True stories!! That was me, once upon a time.

You may wonder why I don't just practice from a recording? Once in a while I do... but I really like to be on camera. When I'm on camera, being watched by my eagle-eye teacher, I don't check my phone. I don't run into the kitchen to quickly knead my bread (well, ok, once or twice, lol). But generally I actually lock myself into that yoga room, and I disregard my daughter and my husband as they putter around me. I focus. I concentrate. When I know that there's somebody watching me... it really helps my yoga practice, so much more than doing a YouTube video. Do you see yourself in this post?

If you found this interesting... drop me a like and subscribe to my channel! Namaste.

Did you know that backbends heal your spine? **When they are done with proper form and alignment** That’s right, I know they’re uncomfortable and when your back hurts, the only thing you want to do is curl forward. But trust me - that’s not going to help! More of the same will give you more of the same!! So give this backbend a go. Just try it!! It’s going to help you - promise 😎

Many people, even yoga students, are uncomfortable with spiritual references in class. If that's you, just keep concentrating on that one thing (what exactly is your body doing?!). That in itself will give your mind a break from all those thoughts. And giving your mind a break will help you, on and off the yoga mat!

Standing Head to Knee is seriously a lifetime journey. The eventual goal is to grab your foot in your hands and kick out so that your leg goes parallel to the floor, tuck your chin to your chest and touch your forehead to your knee, keeping your knee and hip joint directly over your ankle. But only once you have mastered standing on one leg!

Balance is a key element in maintaining health and agility as we age. I demonstrate the first stage of this posture, which is a really effective way to work on your balance - the muscles of your core, your standing leg, the stability of your knee.

Can you stand on one leg, with the bent leg parallel to the ground, for 1 minute? Give it a go!

From the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, Verse 19, on the principle of self-discovery through yoga practice. I only ever started practicing yoga as a method to control back pain. But if you allow, if you seek, you may discover more!

My teacher likes to call this pose “Introduction to Stamina!” Which, of course, it is.