4 Ways to Practice Locust Pose
Locust Pose (Salabhasana) is a simple backbend that strengthens the entire back of your body, from the nape of your neck to the backs of your heels. Salabhasana has benefits for a wide range of problems, including lower back pain,
The Yoga Sutras: Practicing Non-Attachment without Becoming Detached
The concepts of attachment and non-attachment are mentioned several times in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Asana, on the other hand, is only mentioned as a preparation for meditation. So though most people think asana is the be-all and end-all
4 Easy Ways to Use a Sandbag in Yoga Practice
B.K.S. Iyengar is credited with introducing props into modern yoga as a means of support within the asanas or yoga poses. Some yoga students may see using a prop as cheating. But a prop is nothing more than a tool
5 Keys to Healthy Neck Alignment in Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
When practiced appropriately, Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and all of its fantastic yoga pose variations can be an important yogic exercise for creating and maintaining back and neck health. If you practice it incorrectly, however, you can create the very neck
Yoga for Osteoporosis: How Your Breathing Affects Your Bones
When we think about keeping our bones strong, most of us focus on getting enough calcium, taking vitamin D, or doing weight-bearing exercises. But there's another crucial factor that's often overlooked: how well you breathe. Your body's ability to get
Uttanasana: Expand Your Breath
We practice yoga asanas (poses) to free the body so that it can more easily take in, let go of, and absorb the energy of the breath. In Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, the practice of asana (i.e. the third
Yoga and Cancer: A Sequence to Help Alleviate Lymphedema
One of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment is lymphedema. Lymphedema is a swelling of the extremities caused by damage to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system and consists of nodes, vessels,
Exercise and Longevity: Diversify Your Yoga Practice for Maximum Benefits
In asana (posture) practice, we aim for that “sweet spot”—notable physical sensation, but that which causes no harm. This lets us know that we’re opening up muscles and fascia in the body but not straining joints or tearing muscles. Many
Glute Amnesia: Yoga for Your Forgotten Rear
Are you forgetting about your backside? If you spend most of your day sitting, there’s a good chance that you are suffering from glute amnesia. The more you sit, the more you “forget” how to use your glutes! The glutes
Open Your Heart and Free Your Mind in Bow Pose
Resembling the shape of an archer’s bow, Bow Pose (Dhanurasana), is a wonderful backbend that opens your heart and mind to the fullness of your potential. Bow Pose strengthens the back body (shoulders, back muscles, glutes and hamstrings), while opening
Free Online Yoga Video! Natasha Rizopoulos: Keys to Core Stability – Two Postures to Transform Your Practice
In yoga, we hear a lot about the core, and the importance of core strength. But what exactly is the core and what does it mean to cultivate core strength in a balanced way? In this yoga practice video, Natasha
Dr. Ray Long: How to Enhance Your Breathing Capacity During Yoga
I studied yoga for an extended period at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India. The Iyengars are true world experts in yogic breathing. During my time there, I was exposed to the great teachings of pranayama from
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
Calm and Ground with Forward Folds
If we mindfully approach forward folds in yoga, we can create experiences of these asanas as calming, grounding, and enjoyable. It can allow us to fold further and deeper. That’s not to do so for the sake of “touching our
Yoga Anatomy: The Adductor Muscles in Downward Facing Dog Pose
In our blog post, "Strong Thigh Muscles Benefit People with Knee Osteoarthritis,” we gave a tip for activating the tensor fascia lata in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose). This synergizes the quadriceps for extending the knees, aids in flexing