Spine Divine - How Spinal Fluidity Keeps You Healthy for the Long Haul
Do we get older just because of age? Or do the patterns we’ve etched into our bodies decrease the fluid movement in our spines and thereby limit our movement potential? In this interview with YogaUOnline, yoga teacher, Hellerwork Practitioner, Structural
Keys to Safe Hip Opening: 3 Yoga Poses For Happy Hips
When a teacher asks the class, “Any requests today?”, students often say, “Hip-openers!” As Dr. Ginger Garner, a PT and yoga therapist, noted, “Hip-opening is not universally beneficial. Hip-opening can even lead to injuries if overdone or done with incorrect
Yoga Anatomy: The Mighty Heart and Amazing Circulatory System
“Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know,” wrote William Shakespeare. We expect a lot from our metaphorical hearts. We want them to know what’s true, love deeply, feel compassion, point us in the
Yoga Anatomy: The Adductor Muscles in Downward Facing Dog Pose
In our blog post, "Strong Thigh Muscles Benefit People with Knee Osteoarthritis,” we gave a tip for activating the tensor fascia lata in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose). This synergizes the quadriceps for extending the knees, aids in flexing
Warrior 3 Yoga Pose At the Wall: Variations with Props
Practicing Warrior 3, Virabhadrasana III, at the wall is a wonderful option to help strengthen our legs and stabilize ourselves. There are so many variations you can play with, but here, we’ll explore two basic stances. In the first variation,
Supta Padangusthasana (Supine Big Toe Pose): Sustainable Stretching
There are many reasons people decide to start practicing yoga. For me, it was simple curiosity, at least at first. Many of my students come to yoga to bring some calm to their lives. Some want to increase flexibility. A
Relax Your Neck and Upper Back: A Standing Sequence for Upper-Body Tension
You can do your yoga practice anywhere, but not all floor surfaces are yoga-friendly. Sometimes it is neither possible nor desirable to lie down on the ground to do your yoga poses, but it doesn’t mean you should forgo the
Can We Control How We Age? Study Suggests Yoga Practice Can Help Alleviate “Dowager’s Hump”
Can we control how we age? Look in the mirror, and the answer seems to be “yes and no.” We are bound to look older. There’s no choice when it comes to wrinkles, saggy jaw lines, drooping eyelids, or the
Recovering from a Sports or Yoga Injury? 4 Tips to Heal Faster
When healing from a sport or yoga injury, you may consider physical rehabilitation and rest as the key components needed for a full recovery. While these are definitely important, most people overlook the fact that what you choose to eat
Just What Is Your Core? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
You’ve heard of the “core” before. But do you know what it really is? Or even where it is exactly? Do you know how to engage your core? Yoga teachers often tell students to engage their cores, but it’s much
How to Maximize the Benefits of Gate Pose - Includes Free Online Yoga Video!
Gate Pose (Parighasana) is a a foundational hatha yoga posture that is equally great for both beginning and more advanced yoga students. While simple, it is also a challenging and incredibly beneficial yoga pose. Gate Pose incorporates many different key
Yoga Research: Yoga Improves Memory and Cognitive Performance, Study Shows
Sean Mullen wants more adults to go with the flow. The yoga flow that is. Mullen, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, collaborated with fellow Beckman Institute for Advanced
Conscious Relaxation Techniques: How to Unplug, Reset and Revitalize
Author Anne Lamott said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes … including you.” Finding healthy, productive ways to unplug is important during stressful, difficult times. The practice of conscious relaxation can do that
Yoga for Balance: How to Test For and Cultivate Balancing Skills
As stated in my recent blog titled "Digital Dementia," poor posture is not a cause; it is simply a symptom indicating over or under-functioning various bodily systems, including musculoskeletal, endocrine, and nervous. Hours sitting staring at screens, lack of exercise,
Yoga for Osteoporosis - An Interview with Loren Fishman, M.D. and Ellen Saltonstall
Yoga is a form of exercise that can help with Osteoporosis, one of the most widespread chronic conditions in the Western Hemisphere. How does yoga help counteract the effects of bone loss and osteoporosis? In this interview, Dr. Loren Fishman