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
Back pain is the third most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, one of the most common reasons for missing work, and the single leading cause of disability. Yoga has been shown in numerous studies to be an effective technique for preventing and relieving back pain. In fact, research has found that yoga … Continued
Most women are concerned about preventing the thinning bones of osteoporosis to lower fracture risk as we get older. But did you know that there is one factor that is an even greater risk factor for fractures than osteoporosis? We are talking about falls. “Numerous studies show that among older people falling, not osteoporosis, is … Continued
In recent years, a great deal of research attention has focused on how yoga can help enhance well-being and support a healthy mental and emotional balance. In this online course, Senior Iyengar yoga teacher Marla Apt shares the principles used in recent successful studies on yoga for depression to show how yoga asanas and other … Continued
We are all born with different propensities that determine how we interact with the world around us. The more we are familiar with these, the more we can work with our innate tendencies, rather than trying to fit ourselves into patterns and expectations that are not natural to us. Most people are familiar with enneagrams, … Continued
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
We can live for months without food, 3 days without water, but less than ten minutes without air. Yet, we take our breath for granted – inhaling and exhaling is such an automatic part of how our body functions every minute of the day that we rarely pause to notice. Every single minute, all the … Continued
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
Everything that we do in our everyday lives is dependent on our posture. Our ability to lie down, sit, stand, and walk in comfort is directly related to the template of centered body posture. Every yoga posture or athletic activity is an expression of the clarity and refinement of this most basic relationship of our … Continued
A recent study published by Surgical Technology International concludes that when you look down at your cell phone to text, check email, or play a game the force applied to the neck is the equivalent of four adult-sized bowling balls, or 60 pounds. In fact, some are now calling this body position an iPosture, or … Continued
The human wrist and ankle are both marvels of mechanical design and utility. Some authorities site the dexterity of the human hand as our basic advantage over other mammals. Yet in yoga we choose to become four-legged, three legged, legless or one legged creatures – dogs, cobras, cranes, storks and more – with demand for … Continued
Most yoga students think of yoga as the physical postures of asanas or the breathing practices of pranayama. However, in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra we are introduced to the Yamas and Niyamas, the ethical guidelines for all practitioners. In other words, the classical teachings of yoga begin not with asana, but rather with the guidelines for how we … Continued