A Life of Sacred Movement: A Conversation with Judith Hanson Lasater
YogaUOnline sat down with renowned yoga teacher Judith Hanson Lasater — a 40+ year practitioner, physical therapist, and PhD in East-West Psychology — to talk about the deeper intention behind asana, the surprising origin story of restorative yoga, and why
Open Your Shoulders With Gentle, Frequent Practice — Not Force
When our shoulders feel tight from hours at a desk, the instinct is to push hard into a stretch. We demand release. Shoulders rarely respond to that. Instead, they open through gentle, frequent practice and a little patient support. If
The Path Into Monkey Pose Is Built From Props, Not Flexibility
Full Splits, or Monkey Pose (Hanumanasana), looks like a gift reserved for the naturally bendy. We assume we either have the flexibility or we never will. The reality is far more hopeful. The path into this pose is built from
Over Easy: 4 Gentle Alternatives to Inversions
It’s said that the Headstand (Sirsasana) is the king of yoga postures, while the Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) is the queen. Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) and Peacock (Pincha Mayurasana) certainly must also live in the royal court. These “inversions,” so named because they invert (or switch)
Which Is the Best Way to Come Into Triangle Pose?
As yoga teachers, we know that the way we move in and out of the pose is just as important as what we do while holding the pose. This couldn’t be truer for Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose). The way
Bend Your Knees Generously in Forward Folds — Length Beats Depth
There is a quiet belief that a good forward fold means straight legs and palms flat on the floor. So we lock our knees, round our spines, and reach for our toes. The folds that actually release your hamstrings and
Locust Pose: How Reaching Long Through Your Legs Powers the Lift
When we think of Locust Pose (Salabhasana), most of us picture lifting the chest and legs as high as we can. We treat height as the goal. There is a more rewarding way to understand this pose. The strength you
Jump Back and Forward: Smooth Yoga Transitions
Do you practice jump backs and jump forwards in your Vinyasa yoga practice? These challenging transitions can certainly be exhilarating. Yet, if practiced repeatedly in a not anatomically informed way, they can also lead to overuse issues. On the flip
Balance Lives in Your Standing Foot, Not Your Lifted Leg
When a balancing posture wobbles, most of us fixate on the leg in the air. We try to control it, steer it, will it to stay put. The steadier path runs in the opposite direction. Your stability is built in
Facilitating Calm & Balance: Understanding the Multi-Functional Psoas Muscle
On the list of MVMs—most valuable muscles that is—the psoas muscle, or more precisely the iliopsoas chain, is at the top of any yogi’s list. It is after all, the physical link between the spine and the legs. The primary
In Celebration of Gray-Haired Yoga - Busting the Myth of the Yoga Body
I found my first grey hair when I was 22. It wasn’t completely shocking. My mother’s hair was “brindled” grey-black for as long as I could remember before it transitioned to luminous white. I never thought seriously about dyeing it.
Judith Hanson Lasater: The Greatest Gift of Yoga Asana
All I remember of my first asana (posture) class is the ceiling. Between movements, we would be instructed to lie down on our mat and rest. I do not remember very much about what we did, but I do remember
Try Crane Pose From a Block Before You Trust It to Your Arms
Most of us assume Crane Pose (Bakasana) is a matter of raw arm strength, and that we will simply float up once our arms are strong enough. The truth is more encouraging. The thing that lets you lift is the
Judith Hanson Lasater on The Art of Teaching Yoga: Making Every Movement an Asana
Judith Hanson Lasater is one of the longest-teaching yoga teachers in the U.S. In this interview, she reflects on how yoga teaching has changed over the years and shares her insights into what is the true essence of practicing yoga
Struggle with Tight Hamstrings? Take This 60 Second Hamstring Test to See How You Stack Up
Struggling with tight hammies? You are not alone. Tight hamstrings affect a surprising number of people - as many as 7 out of 10 by some research estimates. And unless we regularly stretch our hamstrings, the problem only tends to