Julie Gudmestad: Making Friends with Backbends – How to Overcome Common Challenges

Are you intrigued by backbends, but not sure where to begin? Or are you concerned about a vulnerable low back or knees? Backbends are an important and traditional part of asana practice. However, many yoga practitioners struggle with them, especially students with a sedentary lifestyle, which contributes to slumped posture, tight hips, and compressed internal … Continued

Counteracting Forward Head Posture – Yoga for Optimizing Spinal Alignment

What are forward head posture and hyperkyphosis and why should you care? In the last few decades, researchers have become increasingly interested in the health effects of a posture on our health. And, what they are discovering is pretty remarkable. You may have heard of the new concept of ‘text neck’– which is essentially forward … Continued

Developing Interoception: Creating Embodiment Through Somatic Awakening with James Knight

Developing Interoception: Creating Embodiment Through Somatic Awakening In traditional Hatha yoga, asanas (postures) are often practiced with the intent to reach a “full expression” of any given pose. This approach, however, often precludes developing a more intuitive relationship with the body, thus bypassing important internal messages for self-correction that lead to more nourishing and generative … Continued

Developing Interoception: Creating Embodiment Through Somatic Awakening

In traditional Hatha yoga, asanas (postures) are often practiced with the intent to reach a “full expression” of any given pose. This approach, however, often precludes developing a more intuitive relationship with the body, thus bypassing important internal messages for self-correction that lead to more nourishing and generative choices for everyday lifestyle. Gentle Somatic Yoga … Continued

Yoga for Lower Back Pain—Part II: Keys to Sacroiliac Stability and Ease of Movement

“ . . . no anatomical structure functions in isolation, and the mechanical load anywhere in the body is distributed through a continuous network of fascia, ligaments and muscles supporting the entire skeleton.  . . focusing on singular anatomical structures to comprehend lumbopelvic pain, rather than considering the spine and pelvis as an integrated, interdependent … Continued

Keys to Pelvic Floor Health – Dealing with Overactive Pelvic Floor Muscles

Although we rarely pay attention to them, the pelvic floor muscles play many important roles in the body. The pelvic floor muscles form a vital part of the core muscles, support the abdominal organs within the pelvis, help regulate bladder and bowel function and add to sexual function. Most people have heard of the consequences … Continued

Yoga 2.0 for Midlife Empowerment – Fostering Mind-Body Wellness for Life

Midlife carries the unavoidable conception of “winding down,” of slowly losing our physical and cognitive abilities from age 40 and on. Fortunately, we now know, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are numerous ways we can impact the trajectory of how the second half of our life unfolds. In this online course, yoga … Continued

Yoga for Scoliosis: A Closer Look at Spinal Alignment with Doug Keller

Scoliosis affects an estimated 6 million Americans, but millions more than that have minor scoliotic curvatures of the spine, which largely goes unrecognized, but can be the source of discomfort in the spine, shoulders and sacroiliac joints. Yoga, when practiced with insight and self-awareness, is quite well suited to working with scoliosis and the pain … Continued

A Mind/Body Guide to Yoga Back Care Beyond 50

Do you struggle with recurring back pain in spite of your best efforts? Research shows that 80% of people with back pain get relief from yoga. However, practicing yoga without a back care perspective can actually lead to injury. And with so many different approaches to yoga, it’s difficult to know which approach would best … Continued

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