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
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
Tight hamstrings are extremely common, particularly as we get older. They are not just an inconvenience, but can have numerous spillover effects in our structural health as well. Hamstrings are often the culprit, when people suffer from nagging, persistent low-back pain. Tight hamstrings can also interfere with normal pelvic alignment, in turn distorting normal spinal … 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
Many people – yogis and non-yogis alike – have heard of the piriformis muscle, usually in the context of trouble it is causing. A tight piriformis can cause hip pain, deep in the back of the buttock, or it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve where it passes through the buttock. Pinching of the … 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
At the heart of the practice of yoga is a very important relationship: that between the teacher and the student. The practice of yoga is a quite personal and intimate practice. Traditionally the student lived with the teacher and there were many opportunities each day for interaction and learning. Yoga teachers today face a very … 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
The shoulder is an important joint in the body as well as an important symbol of our strength and ability to succeed in the world. The position of our shoulders instantly telegraphs our mood to the world. Because of the importance of this area in the body, many yoga poses focus either on strengthening or … Continued