Finding Yogic Calm in the Eye of the Family Storm
Question: This fall, I have two family reunions coming up. Can you offer a class about not getting caught up in the family drama and, instead, finding a way back to yourself where there is peace and self-acceptance? Like finding
Advancing Yoga Teaching Methodology - The Role of Kinetic Chains and Posture Imbalances in Practice
There is a pressing need to advance yoga teaching methodology to more systematically incorporate the principles of anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiology into yoga teaching, says Dr. Gill Solberg in this interview. A clinical kinesiologist by profession and a yoga teacher
A Cool Tip For Deeper Breathing in Yoga
I studied yoga for an extended period at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India. The Iyengars are true world experts in yogic breathing. During my time there, I was exposed to the great teachings of pranayama from
Create Space in Your Lower Back and Hamstrings With Staff Pose (Dandasana) Prep
Staff Pose (Dandasana) is typically practiced with the spine perpendicular to the floor, and the legs outstretched. And while this traditional alignment is wonderful for creating length through the spine and the backs of the legs, it’s not the only
How Poor Posture Can Lead to Physical and Mental Dis-Ease
Poor posture is not a cause as much as it is a symptom. Essentially, it is the dysfunction of various systems in the body that are either over or under-functioning. In most bodywork circles, we think of faulty posture as
Practice Tips for a Joyful Revolved Triangle Pose
Revolved Triangle Pose (Parivrtta Trikonasana) is a powerful pose with many benefits. This yoga pose can create more range of motion in many areas of the body, including the hips, hamstrings, and spine. Revolved Triangle Pose also helps with important
Julie Gudmestad: Precursors to Chronic Pain - The Role of Muscle Imbalances
Julie Gudmestad is a renowned yoga teacher, physical therapist, and C-IAYT yoga therapist with over 40 years of experience. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Julie about why muscle imbalances are a common trigger of age-related problems. Julie shares
Get Your ZZZs: 4 Yoga Poses for Insomnia
Insomnia is more common than you may think. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 30 to 35 percent of the U.S. population has brief symptoms of insomnia. Fifteen to 20 percent have short-term sleep problems lasting less than
Yoga for Healing Cancer-Related Neuropathy
Neuropathy is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatments. But what exactly causes the condition? Your nervous system is made up of two parts that relay information between your brain and the rest of your body--the central
4 Causes of Physical and Mental Suffering: A Yogic Perspective
Time and time again, I find that Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras offer invaluable insight into every subject I’m exploring at any given moment. In a previous article, we talked about the nervous system and how much of our physical and mental
Explorations in Spatial Medicine: Tom Myers on How Postural Habits Impact Our Longterm Health and Wellbeing
Can our postural habits damage our wellbeing and even health over the long term? In this article, Anatomy Trains author Tom Myers charts how postural habits slowly become lodged in our fascial system and structure. Once this happens, we get
Optimum Health: 11 Yoga and Ayurveda Practices to Start Today
What I value most in this precious life is health. To me, health means the absence of disease, stable energy levels and emotions, a steady appetite, regular bowel movements, and a daily urge to be creative. My definition of health
Yoga Anatomy: 4 Steps to Facilitated Shoulder Stretching in Gomukhasana
Today’s post illustrates some of the shoulder biomechanics in Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) and some simple steps that can help to increase the range of motion of the lower-side arm through a facilitated stretch of the shoulder external rotators. Please
Vajrasana and Virasana: Find Comfort With Some Simple Yoga Tricks
Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana) and Hero’s Pose (Virasana) are classic seated yoga postures with many benefits. But one huge drawback to these positions is that they can cause discomfort or even pain in the knees for a plethora of reasons. Both
Study: Bodywork May Help Thickened Fascia
OK. We are finally down to rubber-meets-the-road time. Thickened fascia and other connective tissues really are a thing, but the question on everyone’s mind is, “What can be done about them?” Scratch that. Multitudes of people already know that bodywork is incredibly