One way to get a balanced yoga or movement diet is to think about categories, just like you might think of food groups. 

In the gym, for instance, you might work on push exercises and pull exercises. Or arm day, leg day, etc. 

In yoga, you can think of asana in terms of Standing Poses, Forward Folds, Backbends, Twists, Arm Balances, Inversions, Seated Poses, Prone Poses, and Supine Poses. (And there's also breathing and meditation.) So a balanced yoga practice might include selections from any of those categories that suit your needs and desires. 

I've been experimenting myself – and we include a bit in class – with categories from a course called Primal Athleticism, by a movement teacher named Max Shank. This includes the categories Breathe, Vision, Rhythm, Rub, Squeeze, Shake, Roll, Bounce, Balance, Crawl, Climb, Carry, Dance, Wrestle, and Play. 

Your own sport or activity probably has its set of categories and actions. 

Here are some videos you might take a look at if you'd like to expand your movement practice. One is a short take on Twist Poses from class the other day. There are also two videos of my recent 10-minute practices (sped up) with some of the above categories we do and don't do in class, including some things like short katas from karate and athletic-stance T-steps and hip turns, a little rolling and crawling, and just play on the field.

Click here to go to the page.

How will you keep your practice fresh and nourishing?