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Forrest Yoga

Forrest Yoga
Founder Ana T. Forrest
Established 1982
Practice emphases
breath, strength, integrity, spirit
Related schools
Sivananda Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga

Forrest Yoga is a modern yoga style based on Hatha yoga. It was created by and named for Ana T. Forrest, an American yogini. It is known for "its long holding of positions, emphasis on abdominal core work, and standing series that can go on for 20 poses on each side". Reputed for its intensity, the style emphasizes connecting to one's feelings in order to work through physical and emotional trauma.

Forrest derived her practice from some aspects of Sivananda yoga, along with attention to alignment and use of props found in Iyengar yoga, and the heat and flowing sequences of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. As the style evolved, she created a number of additional poses and sequences adapted to modern society, such as wrist stretches to prevent and relieve carpal tunnel syndrome. Forrest wrist stretches are also important "to warm up and stretch out the hands and wrists before their usual yoga practice. First, stretch each finger open one at a time, by grasping the finger and pulling it back for one breath. You should feel the stretch in the fingers and across the palm and a little into the forearm. Next, place all of the fingers on the floor or a table with the fingertips facing toward your torso. Stretch the fingers, but not the palm of the hand, down toward the surface. From that position, see if you can stretch the whole palm down, though you may not make it the whole way. Finally, extend the arms straight out from your shoulders, parallel to the floor. Curl the fingers one by one into the palm, starting with the little finger and ending with the thumb, forming a fist. First, curl the fist in toward the underside of the wrist and then stretch it out. Repeat this exercise a few times before you put weight on your hands." She also created shoulder shrugs to relieve tension and loosen the upper back,abdominal exercises to tone internal organs and strengthen the lower back, and a number of poses using a folded over and rolled up yoga mat.

Forrest Yoga classes are conducted in a warm room (85 °F or 29 °C) and begin with pranayama, then move through seated poses and abs before arriving on to the "hot part" of the class that might involve sun salutations, standing poses, inversions, backbends and other asanas that build up to a number of more challenging "apex" poses. The "contemplative, intensive poses are sustained, some for 10 deep breaths, others for minutes at a time".


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