Paw Prep by YuMee
The Moves: Paw Prep by YuMee Chung
Does the toe tenderizing transition from Upward Facing Dog to Downward Facing Dog make you howl with discomfort? Try this focused Paw Prep to keep your dogs from barking.
1. Sit on your heels in a kneeling position with the inner walls of your thighs meeting.
2. Set your hands firmly on the ground beside your knees. If you have sensitive wrists, try placing your hands on yoga blocks at their second lowest height instead.
3. Rooting your hands down, peel your knees, shins, ankles and feet away from the earth until you are up on the tips of your toes.
4. If you are comfortable up on your toes, roll mindfully over the tops of your feet to lower your heels to the ground into a narrow Downward Facing Dog Pose.
5. Feeling adventurous? Then why not try the exercise in reverse? Retrace your steps from a narrow Downward Facing Dog back to sitting on your heels.
If your feet and ankles object strongly to the stretch, modify the exercise by lifting one knee at a time to train mobility over time as you gain the upper body strength to lighten the load for your toes.
Cry Wolf
The largest member of the dog family, gray wolves have not enjoyed the Man’s Best Friend title accorded to other canines. Although humans are not natural prey for wolves, the fear of wolves is common and humans have hunted the species to extinction in many parts of the world. Thanks to conservation efforts and hunting regulations, Canada is now home to over 60,000 wolves, with 9,000 of those wolves located in Ontario.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gray_wolf_populations_by_country#North_America)
PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hillock. Linda and Rosanna. Oil on mylar. 2017(http://www.sarahhillock.com)
Yoga Moves with YuMee, November 21st to 23rd, 2025
A cherished member of our Teacher Training Faculty alumni, YuMee has led many wonderful workshops at Luna, and we’re so happy to have her return for a full weekend of movement and learning.
YuMee Chung E-RYT-500 YACEP is a former securities lawyer who left a busy practice to engage more deeply with life. More than 25 years later, she is one of Canada’s most in-demand yoga instructors, a consultant, and a columnist for the Toronto Star. YuMee is a teacher’s teacher who sits on the faculty of numerous Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher training programs and leads international workshops and retreats. While she is on the speed dial of physicians, CEOs, and A-list celebrities, YuMee is known as a down-to-earth, kind-hearted and relatable teacher who communicates about the most nuanced parts of the yogic journey with clarity, grace, and humour.
