5 Yoga Poses for Tight Shoulders and Upper Back
Tight shoulders? You’re not alone. Nearly everything we do—sitting at a desk, working on a computer, cooking a meal, picking up children, riding a bike, driving a car, etc.—closes off the front of our chests and creates varying degrees of
Yoga Anatomy: Release the Internal Rotators for a Deeper Lotus Pose
Joint congruency and joint reaction forces are among the most important principles to understand for both practitioners and teachers because many poses can take the articulations to the limits of their range of motion. Take a moment to review this
Smooth Transitions: 9 Ayurvedic Tips for Moving into Spring
Happy Spring! Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space are the five elements that make up all that exists in our universe according to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of life. Look around you and feel inside of yourself. Notice the
A Daily Yoga Sequence for Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain impacts so many people. In fact, the International Pelvic Pain Society estimates that over 25 million women suffer from chronic pelvic pain. While the number is generally lower in men, some studies estimate that around 1 in 10
Free Yoga Video: 3 Somatic Yoga Practices to Help Enhance Postural Awareness
Ready to learn the power of adding simple somatic movement to your practice? And, help improve your postural awareness and interoception at the same time? Join James Knight of Gentle Somatic Yoga for three soothing practices to ease tension in
Yoga for a Healthy Heart - Research Review Charts the Benefits of Yoga on Markers of Heart Health
According to a comprehensive review of yoga research, reviews, and meta-analyses published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, the field of yoga research has grown exponentially in the past 7 years, with nearly 200 studies being published annually. As we continue
Free Video with Dr. Ray Long: The Wonders of Diaphragmatic Breathing
Does the heart move with your diaphragm when you breathe? You bet you! The pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, has fascial connections to the diaphragm. Accordingly, the heart does move during breathing notes Dr. Ray Long in this article
Yoga Anatomy: The Gluteus Medius Muscle in Yoga
The gluteus medius originates on the outer surface of the ilium bone and runs to the greater trochanter of the femur. This muscle acts to stabilize the pelvis when standing on one leg in a yoga pose and while walking.
Yoga for Tight Hips: Take a Breather in Cow Face Pose
Wouldn’t it be great if all of life’s problems could be solved by lying down and taking it easy? The good news is that some of them can. Take tight outer hips, for example. This might be one of your
Garudasana: How to Spread Your Wings
As gods go, Garuda is gargantuan. When he was first hatched from a giant egg, the half-man, half-eagle’s monstrous size so frightened the other Hindu gods that they implored him to shrink himself, which he happily did. In Garudasana (Eagle
Honor Your Unique Body With Three Versions of Hand-to-Big-Toe-Pose
Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana) is a challenging standing balance that strengthens the lower body and core muscles. This pose also improves posture by strengthening the muscles along the spine that help us stand upright while gently encouraging the
Yoga and the Breath of Life: Quotes by T. Krishnamacharya
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya is the forerunner of most of the popular styles of yoga in the West. Among his direct students are Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar, Indra Devi, and his son Desikachar. Most of today’s leading Western yoga teachers have studied
Yoga for Pelvic Floor Health: Why Kegels May Do More Harm than Good
The pelvic floor rarely appears on the list of potential suspects when seeking the cause of ailments such as back pain, constipation, or even dysfunctional breathing issues. However, physical therapist Jessica Reale and yoga educator Patricia Schmidt are on a
Wrist Pain During Yoga? 4 Tricks to Eliminate Discomfort
Experience wrist pain during yoga? You’re not alone. Wrist pain or discomfort is one of the most common complaints from yoga students (and those are just the ones who speak up!). Asana practice, especially Vinyasa Flow Yoga, often has many
Free Yoga Video: Breathing for Pelvic Floor Health: Two Practices to Deepen Your Breath
"Our breath, like our heartbeat, is the most reliable rhythm in our lives. When we become attuned to this constant rhythm, our breath can gradually teach us to come back to the original silence of the mind." ~Donna Farhi Breathing