The feet are a common problem area for people as they get older. This often becomes the source of chronic pain issues that limit our mobility and may require surgery. Shoes constrict the feet and toes, so students often struggle to spread their toes and lack the strength to support normal arch alignment. Improper foot … Continued
How do we truly live our yoga? How do we take our yoga off the mat and extend its benefits and insights into our daily lives? In this online course with Judith Hanson Lasater exploring how we can enrich our yoga practice through the lens of ancient yoga philosophy and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. … Continued
Everyone loses muscle strength as they get older, and because our daily activities (and fitness programs) don’t usually strengthen the pelvic floor, this part of the body is particularly vulnerable to problems. As a result, many women develop pelvic issues as they get older, including incontinence, prolapse, sexual dysfunction, and other issues rooted in the … 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 issues … Continued
How do you want to grow old? It’s a question we often neglect to ask ourselves – until it’s too late! But did you know that if you are currently 50 or 60 years old, you can expect to live till the age of 83? And, did you know that you have great power to … Continued
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
In the last decade, an increasing amount of research attention has focused on the benefits of interoception, i.e. our ability to perceive what’s going on inside our body. People with strong interoception are able to notice and connect with bodily sensations linked to emotions, signals of hunger and thirst, and even intuitive hunches. Because interoception … 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
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
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
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