The Tortoise and Self-Care

Andrea Marcum

In Mexico with Andrea Marcum

Explore tortoise pose (kurmasana) to inspire self-care. This challenging slow-and-steady practice physically maps out the component parts that build tortoise pose including deep hip- and hamstring-openers, forward folds, arm balances, and challenging balancing poses. Thematically, this class also reveals that, like a turtle, we need to get beneath our hard outer shell and into our contemplative inner landscape if we want to create lasting progress and change. With kurmasana, as in life, it’s the journey and not the destination that matters.

Props: 2 blocks, 2 blankets (optional), bolster (optional), strap (optional)