Most physical therapy for knees focuses on the bending/extending aspect of the knees, with emphasis on the hamstrings and quadriceps. But the knee is a ‘twisty joint’ capable of rotation, and many if not most knee problems arise from this aspect — which is of even more concern in yoga, which involves rotation of the shins in … Continued
The opioid crisis and the growing problem of addiction in general are among the most critical issues facing humanity today. At its root, substance use disorder stems not just from chronic pain, but far more commonly is a reflection of the mounting inability to deal effectively with life’s challenges. As a society, we are over-worked, … Continued
Increasingly, researchers are pointing to a new risk factor for chronic disease: Inflammation. Inflammation is a natural immune system defense mechanism, but when it becomes chronic, it becomes a risk factor for a host of chronic conditions, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, arthritis, thyroid issues, fibromyalgia, and more. Aging is one of the biggest risk factors for chronic … Continued
The most foundational yoga pose of all is Tadasana or Mountain Pose. Tadasana demands just one simple thing: that we stand with good posture in a way that supports the natural curves of a healthy spine. In our Western sedentary society, however, it’s surprisingly difficult for most yoga students to achieve correct alignment in Tadasana. … Continued
Many people with plantar fasciitis foot pain think the issue is in the feet. After all, that is where the pain is. For most people, plantar fasciitis is worst in the morning, with the first steps after getting out of bed. Massaging the soles of the feet may bring some relief, but then the following … Continued
It is no exaggeration to say that the hip is one of the most important major joints of the body. First, it is the major connecting point for load transfer between the upper and lower body. Second, the hip also plays an important role as a part of the pelvic complex implicated in the diaphragmatic … Continued
Which is the #1 thing you can do to calm the mind and relieve stress, enhance blood flow to your muscles, increase range of motion and physical performance, improve your posture and prevent back pain? Yes, you guessed it: Stretching. Research shows that stretching is about a lot more than “just” enhancing flexibility. It has … Continued
In our modern society we often focus on treating each ailment separately: we take one pill for headaches, another for depression, and another for high blood pressure. This targeted approach can be useful, but it fails to take into account the whole person. The human body/mind is an integrated set of systems, and no health … Continued
We are in a really exciting time in yoga, medicine, rehabilitation, recovery and what is truly possible for us as human beings. The biomedical view of pain and healing is changing, and this means huge things for all of us. We now have solid science to illustrate the neurobiology of pain and the positive implications … Continued
The benefits of the core get a lot of attention in the yoga and movement worlds. But are we missing out on one of the key reasons why the core body is so important? Most of the attention focuses on the need to keep the core strong and toned. More advanced approaches to core work … Continued
One of the effects of yoga postures is to challenge the joints and muscles in order to enhance strength and flexibility. This not only increases strength, stamina, and flexibility. It also engages the nervous system, enhancing neurological health, and stimulating receptors in the nervous system that slow the production of stress hormones. But when we … Continued
The psoas muscle is often talked about as one of the most important muscles in the body, because of its central location and interconnectedness with other parts of the body. The largest hip flexors in the body, the psoas muscles have many other functions which affect our health and well-being in numerous ways. The two … Continued