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Teaching Yoga: The Wisdom of Not Knowing
This morning a student asked me what should have been a simple question: What should I be feeling in this position? A minute or so later, I’d given her the best non-answer I could. Why a non-answer? First, I’m... Read more
That’s My Spot! Non-attachment on the Yoga Mat
Last week a new student came into class and began arranging her mat and props on the floor in a somewhat tentative manner. This class is ongoing and most of the attendees are regulars. Although the atmosphere... Read more
Anjali Mudra - Simple Greeting or Divine Salute?
Few positions are more ubiquitous in yoga practice than Anjali Mudra (Prayer Position). We often practice Anjali Mudra to begin and end a class. We begin and end Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) in Anjali Mudra... Read moreFeatured Courses
While millions of Americans suffer from pain in the low back and pelvis, many back and hip issues are actually the result of sacroiliac instability (SI), i.e. an imbalance in the sacroiliac joint, which often goes undiagnosed or is improperly treated. Alarmingly, yoga practitioners appear to...Read more
Hip openers are among the most satisfying and powerful yoga poses. They hold a tremendous potential for transformation; they can help us release deep-seated tension and trauma of the past, which many of us hold locked in the hip area. When practiced correctly, hip openers are a great way to soothe...Read more
Yoga is more popular than ever, but as yoga has become a household word, has it also become a mile wide and an inch deep? Are we missing out on the essence of yoga, even as the practice has become a household word? What can we do to capture the deepest aspects of yoga and integrate these into our...Read more
Most people know the importance of core strengthening for health and long-term well-being, but the pelvic floor is an important group of core muscles, which tend to get ignored. “The torso is like a tote bag for your organs,” says Leslie Howard, a Bay area yoga teacher who conducts workshops...Read more
‘Yoga Saved My Life’ A Tribute to B.K.S. Iyengar
“Yoga saved my life. I took it for my health, and then I took it as a mission.” B.K.S. Iyengar in The New York Times B.K.S. Iyengar made it his mission to bring yoga to the world, and what a mission it became... Read more
Looking to Slow Down Aging? A New Study Suggests That Yoga May Help
If you are one of the many millions of maturing adults looking to slow down the hands of time the answer may be as simple as turning to your yoga mat. According to a new study, intensive daily yoga practice is linked to an increase in two key substances linked to youth and longevity: Growth hormone (GH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS). Read more
Working Your Edge: Stretch Tolerance On and Off the Mat
Becoming ‘more flexible’ is one of the more common interests for people entering a yoga program. Many studies from exercise science and yoga increasingly demonstrate the immense benefits of stretching including increased range of joint motion and tissue extensibility (aka ‘increased flexibility’). One aspect that is rarely addressed in the development of flexibility is stretch tolerance . Let’s discuss how yoga stretching offers benefits in improving stretch tolerance along with some mindful cautions. Read more
Chair Yoga Improves Balance in Alzheimer’s Patients, A New Study Shows
Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive form of dementia that causes impairments in attention, memory, thinking and behavior. A new study finds that the Sit ‘N’ Fit Chair Yoga Program can help to significantly improve the balance control of older adults with Alzheimer’s, indicating that motor learning is still possible, even in people with dementia. What’s more, this study suggests that the program is not only safe and feasible but enjoyable as well. Read more
Going Vegetarian? How to Avoid Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Many people who practice yoga regularly experiment with a vegetarian lifestyle or permanently shift to a diet based on plant-based foods. But a common problem to be alert to for people who follow a vegetarian, vegan or live food diet is Vitamin B12 deficiency. Read more
Core Connection: The Relationship Between the Pelvic Floor & the Breath
“Breathe into your belly” is a common instruction in yoga classes. While it may seem like a convenient metaphor for active and engaged breathing, the breath does literally affect the muscles of the abdomen and the pelvic floor. A deep breath that goes into the abdomen benefits the pelvic floor in many ways. Read more