To me, yoga is like that friend who is a good influence, but you don’t see very often. I’m a runner, I like to do push ups, lunges and burpees. I want yoga in my life, I just don’t do it enough.
Enter, Dina Gambella, also known as The Cheeky Yogi. Ever seen someone in “star pose” in front of a huge octopus mural? Dina fills her Instagram Feed with images that make me want to run outside, find a flashy wall and do something flexible.
Just before Christmas, we ran into each other at Ed’s Southern Food and Spirits, a swanky restaurant in Downtown Goldsboro, wearing black leather leggings and free spirits. But really, the spirits were mostly free to us that night. When our talented photog friend, Kyle Aiton, flashed his camera Dina’s way, she took to the streets to pose in a few yoga positions.
Being the peacock that I am, I couldn’t resist…
Which one of these does not belong? I’ll give you a hint… she’s not wearing baller Nike high tops and her form is subpar. Did I mention the spirits were free?
Anyway, below are a few yoga inspired core workouts for you to try. It’s the closest thing I can get to yoga on a regular basis. And definitely hit up Dina on Instagram @thecheekyyogi and her incredible website Sama Circle, yoga for holistic healing and emotional growth. Dina shares her passion for yoga with the world, but if you live in Charlotte, you can namaste with her live, so check her out! She’s cheeky, she’s limber, she’s a doll face.
Now turn up the volume. Let’s go.
Try the entire set 3 to 4 times for a total workout. Here’s the breakdown:
- Begin standing; walk out to full plank; alternate open arm raise; walk back up; repeat 10 times.
- Begin in full plank; drive one leg up in the air and down towards the middle of your chest; back up and cross knee to opposite elbow; back up, then knee to outside elbow; that is one rep, repeat 6 times and then switch to other leg.
- Begin in full plank; alternating shoulder tap; push up (slow and controlled like a yoga push up; bring hands in closer for a tricep push up variation); repeat 10 times.
- Begin in elbow plank; using your core, drive your bottom up in the air, downward dog, and back down; repeat 10 times
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Song: Good Life (with G-Eazy & Kehlani)
Yoga photo by Kyle Aiton
Special thanks to Goldsboro Family YMCA for use of their workout facilities
H//
WhAt an artistic blog. Awesome. I will try these yoga exercises. Love, Momsy (Where did you come from, little black lamb? Were you always in the Eye of God?)
Thanks, Moms. I’m definitely your child… tell you that much.
Anthony, I meditate daily. It helps to clear the mind. We can’t control the thoughts that pop in our heads but we can control how we deal with them. Where do you live? I grew up fairly close to Lake Erie in Youngstown, Ohio. Mark
Tecnicamente era davvero sbalorditivo. Io però l'ho trovato noiosetto, mentre mio nipote si è spaventato… mi sa che per fare contenti tutti alla fine non hanno accontentato nessuno! ^^Simone