Donna Farhi: Keys to Pain-free Living - The Importance of a Balanced Core Cylinder
Donna Farhi is an internationally renowned yoga instructor, leading countless intensives and teacher training programs. She is the author of The Breathing Book, Yoga Mind, Body, and Spirit: A Return to Wholeness, as well as Bringing Yoga to Life: The Everyday
The Fourth Niyama: Svadhyaya - Self-Study
The fourth of the niyamas (personal observances) from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is svadhyaya. In Sanskrit, sva means “self;” dhyaya translates as contemplating, meditating on or reflecting upon. Svadhyaya therefore can be translated as self-reflection, self-contemplation or the study of oneself.
Shoulder Biomechanics, Part 2: The Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Muscles
Welcome to the second of our series on the shoulder joint in yoga. The first article in the series discussed the subscapularis muscle, the main shoulder internal rotator. Now we’re on to the antagonist muscles of the subscapularis, the infraspinatus
What Makes an Effective Yoga Teacher?
Yoga instructors, let’s take a moment for honest self-study (svadhyaya). Do you teach yoga, or are you solely leading poses? What distinguishes yoga instructors from fitness instructors? How do yoga classes and fitness classes differ? What makes an effective yoga
Love your Back With This Spine-Focused Yin Yoga Sequence
In our typical day-to-day lives, our spines do a lot, and usually, we aren’t even aware of the amount of stress that we put on these tissues. The spine is an ingeniously designed shock-absorbing structure and a column of strength
Upward Plank Pose: Wrist-Saving Variations
With my long neck and a body that prefers curling up into a fetal position, the Upward Plank Pose (Purvottanasana) has always been a challenging pose for me. But I’ve also found over the years that the more challenging poses
A Relaxing Yin Yoga Sequence at the Wall
Yoga at the Wall is a special type of practice that utilizes a wall for support and comfort. And there are few practices better than a high-quality wall yin yoga sequence. Yin yoga is the perfect practice to take to
How to Help Students Set Goals in Yoga
When we work with yoga students one-on-one, we always begin by identifying each student’s unique needs. The first question we always ask our new yoga students is, “What do you hope to get out of this?” Helping students articulate their
Upside-Down Yoga: The Many Benefits of Inversions
When you are standing upright, you are subject to gravity. This is probably not a surprise. But what most people don’t think about is that the blood and organs in your body are also subject to gravity. Although our bodies
Floating on Cloud 9 - How to Invite More Bliss and Well-being into Your Yoga Practice
Eyes closed, I’m lying on my back in Savasana at the end of an arduous hour and a half Vinyasa class. My body feels heavy and melting into the floor, my breathing slowed to 3 to 4 times per minute.
How to Bend Forward Without Stressing the Spine
When you go to a yoga class and attempt to do a forward bend, you are likely to hear: “Bend from the hips!” What does it mean exactly? And is it really the best way to get there? Our main
Yoga Practitioner Beware: This Common Teaching Cue Can Erode the Stability of Your Sacroiliac Joint!
If you are a yoga teacher or practitioner hoping for healthy joints that last a lifetime, you might want to head straight for the door when you hear that ubiquitous yoga teaching cue to “Square the hips” in wide-stance standing
Yoga Every Day: 9 Tips for Creating a Successful Home Yoga Practice
There are many good reasons to develop a home yoga practice. Yoga practiced infrequently is unlikely to yield long-term benefits, and with a strong home practice, it's much easier to get your regular dose of yoga in - no commute
Donna Farhi: Balancing the Core - Keys to Building a Healthy Yoga Practice
Donna Farhi is an internationally renowned yoga instructor, leading countless intensives and teacher training programs. She is the author of The Breathing Book, Yoga Mind, Body, and Spirit: A Return to Wholeness, as well as Bringing Yoga to Life: The Everyday
Your Brain on Yoga: 4 Ways Yoga May Help Mitigate Cognitive Decline
Can yoga help curb the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's? A review of 11 studies offers some encouraging preliminary evidence. The statistics are sobering: After age 65, the risk of Alzheimer’s disease doubles approximately every five years. By age 85,