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
The body has not one, but three diaphragms, and all interact to create whole body systemic effects and benefits. If we learn how to work with the diaphragms as a whole, we can nurture powerful healing potential in the mind-body complex. Join doctor of physical therapy and yoga therapist, Dr. Ginger Garner for a journey into … Continued
Traditionally, core training has focused on muscle strengthening and not nervous system learning. However, core training really should be about learning new movement patterns, and in particular, learning how to move from our power center, notes Dr. Staffan Elgelid, P.T., Ph.D. A yoga therapist and physical therapist widely respected for his work with athletes, Staffan’s … Continued
Have you seen those beautiful, deep back bending postures in yoga publications, on Instagram and so on? They might seem like a “gold standard” when it comes to back bends; but in reality the effectiveness of your backbend has NOTHING to do with how far you can curve your spine. In fact, the deeper you … Continued
Each day we must work our spine in order to keep it strong and supple. Given that there are 26 bones in the vertebral column and 48 interlocking joints, each of us must spend time mobilizing and stabilizing our spine. In this course you will learn the importance of balancing the spine and intervertebral spaces. You will gain … Continued
By now it’s become an article of faith that core stability is a key element in healthy asana practice and crucial to a happy lower back. But what is the core and how do we strengthen it? Too often classes with a core emphasis focus on the superficial musculature of the front body and end … Continued
Are you plagued by chronic aches or movement restrictions in your body that persist even with a good yoga practice? In addition to finding help through chiropractic, massage or physical therapy, you can help yourself with simple yet powerful techniques that you can do right at home. Myofascial release techniques are gaining popularity as a … Continued
“Our body is our most proximate, intimate, and useful tool – and yet we graduate from school knowing more about the principal exports of Chile than we do about our own selves south of the neck.” ~ Tom Myers As a culture, we have become disenfranchised from our body and the subtle somatic cues that … Continued
While a bottle of wine can sit in a cellar for years improving with age, the same cannot be said of humans. In fact, a sedentary adult may experience as much as 30 to 40 percent loss of muscular strength as a result of reduced levels of muscle mass between the ages of 30 and … Continued
“If we can let go of our preconceptions and dive into the level of pure, experienced sensation, we can begin to experience the world as it truly is: an unlimited expanse of vibration; a contraction of the awareness in which it lives.” ~Richard Miller We hear a lot about the mind-body connection and the close … Continued
Just because you experience monthly mood swings, rage and cry at the end of a long-term relationship, or occasionally feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of your responsibilities, it doesn’t mean you’re clinically depressed or have an anxiety disorder. These emotional ups-and-downs may simply be your body’s way of getting you to pay … Continued
You may have already heard lots about the psoas, and why it’s so important to release tightness in the psoas muscles. The psoas muscle has long been recognized as central to balanced posture and movement. Imbalances in the psoas are often implicated in cases of lower and mid back pain, groin pain, hip pain, and … Continued