In mom and baby yoga classes, I love to see the poses that that the babies do as part of their normal developmental movement. Poses like locust definitely come easier to the babies than the moms.

The app revolution in well underway (that's applications for the iphone and ipod, in case you are late to the party like me), and that includes yoga apps. If you can recommend a yoga app you're using regularly to enhance your practice, leave a comment and I'll check into it and present an app roundup soon.

A recent New York Tines article (Is Your Ab Workout Hurting Your Back?) took a close look at the conventional wisdom that strengthening your deep abdominal muscles will prevent or alleviate back pain. The current thinking is that it doesn't make sense to work the deep abs in isolation, and doing so may even worsen back aches. Instead, do exercises that integrate all the muscles that support the spine, including the yoga poses side plank and hands and knees balance.

Astavakrasana is one of yoga's more pretzel-like poses. If you just look at the finished product, it's hard to figure out how to get yourself all tangled up like that, but follow the step-by-step instructions, mastering each step before proceeding, and it starts to make a lot more sense.

About.com Pilates Guide Marguerite Ogle has put together a very thorough look at three versions of plank from a Pilates perspective. The poses she explains are: plank, side plank, and plank with dolphin arms. All three are great for the arms and abs, making them perfect for a summer workout.

One of the newer kids on the block, Forrest Yoga is gaining popularity across the USA. Based on the methods of charismatic teacher Ana Forrest, this style appeals to those who like an intensely physical, almost acrobatic practice that also focuses on spiritual healing.

For me, pigeon is a pose that really brings out the differences between my right and left hip. On the left side, my hip comes nicely to the floor just like it should. On the right side, no way Jose. I actually need to use a folded blanket as a prop under the right side. When you discover these things about your body, try to just recognize the difference and definitely don't force the recalcitrant side to match its more talented counterpart.

An interesting blog post over at Yoga Journal just caught my attention. It deals with the ethics of romantic relationships between yoga teachers and their students. On the one hand, no one wants to see a teacher abuse their position to "score" with students. On the other, we're all adults here, and is a yoga teacher really in that much of a position of power anyway? I guess I see a fine line between a teacher who sleeps around and one who happens to encounter a potential soul mate who shares an interest in yoga. Unfortunately, fine lines aren't very helpful when trying to establish codes of conduct. What do you think?

Have you tried yoga as part of your attempt to lose weight? Did it work or not? Share your story about yoga and weight loss, whether positive or negative.

Shoulderstand is all about alignment, alignment, alignment. Sure, you could say that about any yoga pose (and I do), but it's particularly important here since incorrect alignment can put too much pressure on your neck. In my opinion, using a blanket under the shoulders but with the head and neck off the blanket is essential. I often see students in shoulderstand with their legs too far forward, in almost a pike instead of perpendicular to the floor. This can be hard to judge at first, so have a friend or teacher adjust your legs to the correct position so you can get a feel for it.