The core teaching of yoga is that we can cultivate an inner connection with an essential part of ourselves, free from the limits of the body and mind. In order to use the practice to connect with this place within us, we need to take a deep dive within. The yoga practices are specifically designed … 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
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
The most foundational yoga pose of all is Tadasana or Mountain Pose. Tadasana demands just one simple thing: that we stand with good posture in a way that supports the natural curves of a healthy spine. In our Western sedentary society, however, it’s surprisingly difficult for most yoga students to achieve correct alignment in Tadasana. … Continued
Forward bending yoga postures are among the most relaxing and soothing groups of yoga postures. They calm body and mind and can help us shift from a frenzied, busy mind set into a more relaxed, parasympathetic mode of functioning. But forward bends also have a little known dark side. If practiced incorrectly without reference to … Continued
Part I: Taking Refuge – Coming Home to Ourselves We all have a great need for a place of refuge. But sadly the difficulties of today’s world can invade our consciousness at any place and at any time, mainly because of the internet. It may not actually be harder to find the way and the … 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
“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
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