The practice of yoga is intended to enhance the equanimity of body, mind, and soul. An essential vehicle for gaining the benefits of yoga is found in a spine that is strong, flexible, balanced, and receptive. In this course, renowned yoga teacher Lillah Schwartz shows how we can retain or reestablish the natural fluidity of … Continued
It is well-known that core strengthening is one of the most important ways to keep your back healthy and enjoy pain-free living. However, when most people hear the term “core strengthening,” they think of strength work for the abdominals, such as crunches, curl-ups, and sit-ups. Unfortunately, these exercises tend to strengthen mainly the superficial muscles … Continued
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
In our fast-paced Vinyasa yoga culture, are we missing out on one of the greatest gifts yoga has to offer? Renowned yoga teacher Judith Hanson Lasater thinks so. Deep rest has become an absolute necessity in our lives. When we emphasize moving rapidly through a series of poses, it is easy to miss out on … Continued
Beginning students often share common challenges. These include a lack of body awareness, and the typical physical limitations of the American body, such as tight hamstrings, tight hips, a weak back, and lack of core strength. The older the student, the more pronounced these limitations. Learning to observe and adjust your teaching to these common issues is … 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
It’s well known that stress has a significant impact on our bodies. From muscle tension to nervous system dysregulation to hormone disruption, stress wreaks havoc on our bodies. What fewer women realize is that the effects of stress on our bodies can also affect our ability to get pregnant! The good news is that there … 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
Forward bending yoga postures are among the most relaxing and soothing groups of yoga postures. They calm body and mind and can help us shift from a frenzied, busy mind set into a more relaxed, parasympathetic mode of functioning. But forward bends also have a little known dark side. If practiced incorrectly without reference to … Continued
Part I: Taking Refuge – Coming Home to Ourselves We all have a great need for a place of refuge. But sadly the difficulties of today’s world can invade our consciousness at any place and at any time, mainly because of the internet. It may not actually be harder to find the way and the … 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