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
“Restorative yoga has been helpful for my patients with diverse conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, high blood pressure, asthma, migraine and tension headaches, stress-related diseases, chronic fatigue, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.” – Mary Pullig Schatz, MD We work very hard in our lives, and while we may sleep, we rarely take time … 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
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
We have long known that genetics play a major role in how we metabolize foods, supplements, and even life experiences. One of the most fascinating new discoveries of the human genome project included findings around the epigenome, i.e., a record of chemical changes to the DNA, which modulate the expression of your genes, and therefore … Continued
Feeling restless, wound-up, or constantly on edge? Or do you feel you worry all the time, have difficulty concentrating, are overly irritable and emotional, and easily fatigued? These are all symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety affects us all at one point or another. But when we struggle with it constantly, it can infringe on our sleep … 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
Have you ever noticed how forward bending postures have a unique ability to settle the mind and body and give us a feeling of safety and calm? Forward bends have many benefits. They can help create length and space in the spine to counteract compression, and they help stimulate parasympathetic functioning (the rest and digest … Continued
Back problems are almost epidemic in our society; in fact, chronic back pain lies at the root of the escalating opioid crisis, which has turned into a major public health issue in the U.S. Not surprisingly, the American College of Physicians now recommends that doctors recommend self-care techniques like yoga and Tai Chi for back … Continued
Next to food, sleep is one of the most important features that sustains our health and well-being. According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of natural healing, there are three pillars of life: Proper diet, proper sleep, and balanced use of energy. Yet, of the three, sleep can be the most elusive. Most people experience … Continued
One out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at one point in their life. However, a large body of research shows that statistically speaking, there are ways to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Unfortunately, that knowledge is found across numerous studies on many different topics, and not easily summarized. Based … Continued