Many yoga students have posture imbalances or habitual holding patterns, which affect alignment in their practice of yoga asanas. In this course, yoga teacher and physical therapist Chrys Kub shows how to develop awareness of the common muscle imbalances that create postural dysfunctions and how to harness the power of asana to improve posture over … Continued
Everything in nature is made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space, according to Ayurveda and yoga philosophy. The five elements are viewed not just as external forces, but vital forces of life interweaving with our physical, mental, and emotional being. Knowledge of the five elements, or tattwas, as they pertain … Continued
“Death Begins in the Colon” said Dr. Bernard Jensen, D.C., also known as the father of holistic health. The accumulation of toxic debris in the body due to inadequate digestion and elimination, he suggested, produces poisons that slowly, over time can kill us. Interestingly, what Dr. Jensen pointed out some 70 years ago , for … Continued
High blood pressure remains a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, congestive heart failure and kidney disease in Western societies. One in three Americans suffers from hypertension, according to the CDC, and only about half of those have it under control. Millions of others, including many who turn up in yoga classes, have dangerously high … Continued
Aging is a side effect of unhealthy living. A long, joyful life is a side-benefit of healthy living. This is the vision of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of natural healing, says Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar, one of the most academically accomplished Ayurvedic physicians and Ayurvedic clinicians in the U.S. In this course, Dr. Kshirsagar will describe Ayurvedic … Continued
Why do issues like prostate problems (for men), prolapse (for women), incontinence, and pelvic pain disorders become increasingly common as we get older? And, is there anything we can do to prevent or slow this process? In this course, yoga teacher and yoga therapist Leslie Howard will discuss common male and female pelvic floor disorders … Continued
The ability to structure and sequence classes so that students have the best possible experience, both on the mat and afterwards, is one of the hallmarks of skillful teaching. In this course with Natasha Rizopoulos, we’ll begin with an overview of essential sequencing principles. We’ll explore the idea of sequencing as a coherent narrative arc … Continued
Kinesiology is the study of human movement. To teach with confidence and efficacy, it’s of course important to know basic kinesiological principles, such as the names, origins and insertions of the skeletal muscles. But this alone is not nearly enough. It is perhaps more important to understand how the muscles work together so that the … Continued
For the trained eye, the body has many secrets to tell. As yoga teachers, we quickly develop the ability to observe when students have difficulty with alignment in yoga postures. But observing is one thing, knowing how to help students overcome alignment issues is another issue altogether! Many alignment issues are not so much rooted … Continued
The breath is a powerful tool inducing greater relaxation and wellbeing, and healthy breathing affects our long-term health and how well we age. The breath is also one of the subtlest and most effective gateways to connecting to Spirit or the sacred essence of who we are. Of course today, the specter of COVID-19 in … Continued
Arthritis affects one in five adults in the U.S and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. It is a complex family of over 100 musculoskeletal disorders that result in deterioration of joints, bones, muscles, cartilage and/or other connective tissues, creating challenges for everyday movement. Arthritis can affect people of all ages. Two-thirds of people … Continued
Thirty-one million Americans suffer from low back pain, and increasingly, people with mild to moderate back pain seek out yoga classes to find relief for the condition. In this environment, it’s critical for yoga teachers to understand how to assess and address these conditions with intelligence, and above all, how to keep students safe. In … Continued