Stories Behind Yoga Pose Names

Yoga postures, or asanas, have been given numerous names over centuries of practice. These names are often rooted in spiritual and cultural traditions. Here are some of the stories behind the names of yoga poses:

1. Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): This pose gets its name from its resemblance to a dog stretching its front legs and pushing its hips up and back. Adho mukha means "face down," and svana means "dog" in Sanskrit.

2. Warrior (Virabhadrasana): The warrior series is named after an avatar of the Hindu god Shiva. Virabhadra was a fierce warrior who was created from Shiva's hair and carried a sword in his hand. The warrior poses are meant to embody strength and courage.

3. Tree (Vrikshasana): The tree pose is named after the sturdy and rooted nature of trees. The Sanskrit word Vriksha means "tree," and asana means "pose." Yoga practitioners often use the tree pose to cultivate balance and stability.

4. Cobra (Bhujangasana): In Hindu mythology, the cobra represents divine power and energy

Larissa Rzemienski

Larissa Rzemienski began her yoga journey to heal following the loss of her spouse at a young age. As she dove deeper into her yoga practice, she decided to embark on the journey to become a certified yoga teacher. In 2015 she completed her 200-hour teacher training through LifePower in Tempe, Arizona. In 2019, she completed her 300-hour teacher training through Urban Yoga in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, Larissa has certifications in Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Meditation, Restorative Yoga, and as a Sound Practitioner. Larissa has also led several yoga teacher training programs for 200 and 300 hour students.

Larissa creates yoga offerings, yoga sequences, and classes that are unique and specialized for all her clients. She weaves in creativity through all her classes and loves learning more about yoga philosophy and yoga sutras. Larissa has served as the local lululemon store ambassador for the past several years and has offered large community events and in-store events for the lululemon community.

Outside of teaching yoga, Larissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Guidance Counselor for Grades K-12. She is a telehealth counselor and teaches college courses in counseling and mental health. Larissa has a Master of Counseling degree, M.B.A. in Marketing, and Ed.S. in Leadership.

Larissa also serves as a Wish Granter for Make a Wish Arizona.

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