Navasana: 3 Variations for Practicing Boat Pose in Yoga
We’ve all heard that strong abdominal muscles support a healthy lower back and that yoga poses build “core” strength. But, although Navasana (Boat Pose) is categorized as an abdominal pose, like all yoga asanas, on a purely physical level, Navasana
Tom Myers - Fascia as a System of Biomechanical Auto-Regulation
I am so over the word ‘fascia.’ I have touted it for 40 years – I was even called the ‘Father of Fascia’ the other day in New York (it was meant kindly, but…) — now that ‘fascia’ has become
Improve Your Posture: Yoga on a Ball
According to Webster’s 1913 Dictionary, the word combat means, “To struggle or contend, as with an opposing force; to fight with; to oppose by force, argument, etc; to resist; a contest of violence; a struggle for supremacy.” When you see
8 Dos and Don'ts When Teaching Yoga to Beginners
When it comes to teaching yoga to beginners, there are a few dos and don’ts that can help your students feel welcome and feel like they belong. If you remember your first yoga class, it was a pretty intimidating experience.
Popping Joints In Yoga Practice? Here’s What It Means
Has the sound of popping joints ever surprised you when you move? You may wonder if anyone else can hear it. Cracking and popping joints, even sounds like grinding, can be disconcerting. Don’t worry! These sounds don’t mean your body’s
Yoga for Pelvic Floor Disorders - Studies Suggest Yoga Can Help Prevent Incontinence
Pelvic floor disorders are surprisingly common. After the age of 55, issues like incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain become increasingly prevalent, and by age 80, one out of two women will have experienced some form of pelvic floor disorder. Two
The Yoga Sutras and Neuroscience: Exploring Connections
Of all the traditional yogic texts, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is my all-time favorite. It gets often mentioned in the yoga world in connection with yamas (moral precepts), niyamas (daily practices), and the eight limbs of yoga, but, to be completely
Experts Agree Yoga Is Great for Your Brain: A Review of the Scientific Evidence
Although we’ve long known that cardiovascular exercise improves brain health and stimulates the growth of new neurons, we’ve known less about how yoga affects the brain. Now, a review of the research suggests that yoga may enhance many of the
Utkatasana: Use Yoga Props to Stabilize and Energize Fierce Pose
Flexible people tend to self-select for yoga. Of course, anyone with any body type can benefit from yoga practice. But those of us who were born with flexible bodies gravitate to the practice because asanas that highlight hypermobility—which make up
Mind-Body Benefits of Yoga for Kids: What Does New Research Say?
What are the Main Benefits of Yoga for Kids? Yoga Can Improve Children’s Emotional Regulation Yoga can help children learn to recognize and express their emotions appropriately and cultivate kindness toward themselves and their peers. By focusing on their breath
Struggle with SI Joint Pain? Avoid These 4 Common Yoga Mistakes
Lower back pain is shockingly common in the general adult population. The root cause of 15 to 30 percent of low back problems is related to sacroiliac (SI) joint pain. Despite how common it is, SI joint problems are often not correctly
Yogic Wisdom: Multitasking Kills Memory and Productivity
Multitasking means doing more than one thing at a time. Author Greg McKeown notes, in his book Essentialism, that before the 20th century, the word “priority” had no plural form in English. A priority was the one thing you focused
Mountain Pose Focus in Yoga Practice: Lengthening Your Side Body
Years ago, I went to India to study with B.K.S. Iyengar with a group of experienced yoga practitioners from around the U.S. While many of my classmates were eager to practice complicated asanas with Mr. Iyengar, I realized early on
Pandiculation in Yoga: A Healthier Way to Stretch
Yoga is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to improve physical and mental well-being. Asana, the physical practice, is only one limb of yoga, but it is the limb that most people are familiar with. We associate
Yoga for Healthy Aging: How Yoga Affects the Way We Age
Most of us are desperately searching for the fountain of youth. And while we cannot stop Father Time from ticking away, we can actually follow specific practices and techniques to age in a more healthy and functional way. We can