Often the instructions customarily given in backbending are based on generalizations and assumptions, as well as attempts at simplification. But this is not always helpful to YOU, particularly when those generalizations don’t apply! In this course, Doug Keller will be sorting through the many issues of backbending and how they are taught in yoga. Doug … Continued
Free your spine and feel your energy flow. As the central pillar of the body, free movement of the spine is vital to asana. Additionally, blockages in the spine restrict the flow of energy/prana. This online continuing education yoga workshop will give yoga therapists and teachers an in-depth understanding of the spine, knowledge of common … Continued
Hip openers are among the most satisfying and powerful yoga poses. They hold a tremendous potential for transformation; they can help us release deep-seated tension and trauma of the past, which many of us hold locked in the hip area. When practiced correctly, hip openers are a great way to soothe both mind and body; … Continued
The root of a whole host of physical challenges and chronic pain — from shoulder, hip and low back pain to joint injury and deterioration and forms of scoliosis — can be found in basic imbalances in the alignments of the pelvic girdle. This is about more than just having a ‘picture perfect’ posture (which … Continued
All around us we see an epidemic of posture problems that often lead to back pain and other problems. Particularly common is the slumping and forward head posture that often comes with prolonged sitting. Posture problems also contribute to problems in yoga poses and even may predispose students towards injuries. In this course, Julie Gudmestad … Continued
In this two-part teleclass, Judith Hanson Lasater shares her unique and deep insights into the philosophy and practice of yoga. This audio teleclass focuses on two related topics relevant to anyone practicing yoga, whether beginner, advanced practitioner or yoga teacher. The practice of yoga is a profound and demanding one, because it asks us to look … Continued
With the popularity of abdominal strengthening exercises like curl-ups and crunches, many people come to yoga with overly tight and short abdominals. Tightness in the abdominal muscles can restrict the movement of the diaphragm and disturb the proper balance between the different muscles involved in breathing, thus disturbing the breath’s natural rhythm. When the diaphragm … Continued
Central to the teachings of yoga is the concept of “Prana,” the universal life force that is the origin of and animates all living things, also known as “Maha Prana” or great prana. In the human body, Prana is the underlying intelligence that coordinates all functions of the body. This universal vital force is expressed … Continued
The ability to be still and enjoy life is a sacred, sacred thing, but we spend much of our lives absorbed in the bustling busyness of day-to-day existence. Life flies by while we are busy pursuing goals we think we must meet before we can really begin to enjoy life. As we reach our prime … Continued
Yoga is more popular than ever, but as yoga has become a household word, has it also become a mile wide and an inch deep? Are we missing out on the essence of yoga, even as the practice has become a household word? What can we do to capture the deepest aspects of yoga and … Continued
Teaching beginners is by far the most challenging teaching situation for yoga teachers. Combine that difficulty with the fact that it is often newer teachers who teach beginning classes, and it is easy to see why there can be difficulties. With the growing popularity of yoga, more and more people with little yoga experience are flocking to studios. … Continued
The yogic action of Jalandhara Bandha, while it is designed for the practice of breath retention during pranayama, contains vital insights into the subtleties of how we hold our head, and how that in turn affects our breathing, muscle tone, and even the functioning of our nervous system. How we hold our head isn’t just … Continued