The foot is the only contact point between the body and the ground. The 26 bones of the foot form a complex structure, which plays a critical role in the way in which our body stabilizes during dynamic movement. We usually pay the most attention to the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the foot. However, … Continued
Can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented? Indeed, promising new research shows that dementia is not an inevitable condition of old age over which we have no control. There are steps we can take to reduce our risk of Alzheimer’s and improve cognitive functioning – and the earlier we start, the better. Join Baxter Bell, MD, C-IAYT, … Continued
Every second of the day, your body is functioning seemingly effortlessly, regulating the literally millions of physiological functions that keep your body running. The part of the nervous system in charge of orchestrating all these functions behind the scenes, so to speak, is the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates all the functions … Continued
Most people know the importance of core strengthening for health and long-term well-being, but the pelvic floor is an important group of core muscles, which tend to get ignored. “The torso is like a tote bag for your organs,” says Leslie Howard, a Bay area yoga teacher who conducts workshops nationally on pelvic floor strengthening to help … Continued
The effect of yoga on the nervous system is one way we can understand the truly integrative approach of yoga to health and well-being. The nervous system is our communication network through which we respond to internal and external stimuli and through which we work to maintain a homeostatic environment within our body. The effects … 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
While millions of Americans suffer from pain in the low back and pelvis, many back and hip issues are actually the result of sacroiliac instability (SI), i.e. an imbalance in the sacroiliac joint, which often goes undiagnosed or is improperly treated. Alarmingly, yoga practitioners appear to experience S.I. problems at a significantly higher rate than … Continued
The ancient yoga masters instructed us to conserve our prana so our mind would be clear and our energy vibrant. Linking breath to prana they discovered the secret to health through a process of reduction and subtlety. Yet, our modern day yoga classes have us noisily respiring at huge volumes that expend prana and may … Continued
Can yoga practice predispose you to sacroiliac (SI) joint pain? In her travel and teaching around the world, renowned yoga teacher Donna Farhi has found that SI joint issues are one of the most common complaints that she sees in yoga practitioners. Can yoga practice predispose you to sacroiliac (SI) joint pain? In her travel … Continued
Join Tom Myers, author of Anatomy Trains, for an online course that will give you new insights into the interconnectedness of the body as it relates to your yoga practice. While traditional anatomy is static, Anatomy Trains shows you the body as an interconnected whole. We do not move via individual muscles as traditional anatomy has it, … Continued
Sciatica is one of our oldest known pain problems — the known history of treatments for sciatica goes back as far as the 5th century BC, with a wide (and often unsuccessful) variety of treatments tried. It continues to be a common problem today: studies indicate that up to 43% of people experience sciatic pain … Continued
The vagus nerve and contemporary Polyvagal Theory are exciting new topics in modern discourse, which have a wide range of applications for yoga practitioners. Contemporary thought about the vagus nerve and Polyvagal Theory sheds light on numerous traditional yoga concepts and practices. In particular, yoga’s deep inquiry into our mental and emotional life makes all … Continued