Yoga for Tight Hips: Take a Breather in Cow Face Pose
Wouldn’t it be great if all of life’s problems could be solved by lying down and taking it easy? The good news is that some of them can. Take tight outer hips, for example. This might be one of your
Garudasana: How to Spread Your Wings
As gods go, Garuda is gargantuan. When he was first hatched from a giant egg, the half-man, half-eagle’s monstrous size so frightened the other Hindu gods that they implored him to shrink himself, which he happily did. In Garudasana (Eagle
Yoga Anatomy: 4 Steps to Facilitated Shoulder Stretching in Gomukhasana
Today’s post illustrates some of the shoulder biomechanics in Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) and some simple steps that can help to increase the range of motion of the lower-side arm through a facilitated stretch of the shoulder external rotators. Please
Yoga and the Breath of Life: Quotes by T. Krishnamacharya
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya is the forerunner of most of the popular styles of yoga in the West. Among his direct students are Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar, Indra Devi, and his son Desikachar. Most of today’s leading Western yoga teachers have studied
Wrist Pain During Yoga? 4 Tricks to Eliminate Discomfort
Experience wrist pain during yoga? You’re not alone. Wrist pain or discomfort is one of the most common complaints from yoga students (and those are just the ones who speak up!). Asana practice, especially Vinyasa Flow Yoga, often has many
Free Yoga Video: Breathing for Pelvic Floor Health: Two Practices to Deepen Your Breath
"Our breath, like our heartbeat, is the most reliable rhythm in our lives. When we become attuned to this constant rhythm, our breath can gradually teach us to come back to the original silence of the mind." ~Donna Farhi Breathing
Are Women More Vulnerable to SI Joint Pain? How Yoga Can Help
My grandmother suffered from lower back pain for many years. She described it as sharp, debilitating pain on one side of her lower spine. The only remedy she could find was a heating pad that she regularly applied to the
Yoga Pose Primer: Balancing Effort and Ease with Crow Pose
Much success and well-being in life depends upon finding balance—the “happy medium,” the “sweet spot” between extremes. For instance, consider balancing personal and career endeavors (“work/life balance”). Giving the right amount of time and attention to both areas of life
5 Yoga Tips for A More Enjoyable Lizard Pose
We are all very unique and different - straight down to our bones. So alignment in yoga needs to be adjusted and adapted to fit our individual needs. We often strive for aesthetic, picture-perfect postures in our yoga practices, but
3 Tips for a Stable Warrior III: Using a Wall in Your Yoga Practice
Warrior III is one of those yoga poses that confers numerous benefits. It strengthens your hips, core and back muscles, it enhances balance and builds neuromuscular integration. So, what's not to like? Unfortunately, for most students a well-aligned Warrior III
How Well Are You Aging? An Easy Test of Health and Longevity
How healthy is your body? And, how well are you aging? The more we know about the health of our body and early warning signs of breakdown or distress, the more we are able to take steps to prevent or
Yoga Balance for the Spine: What’s the Best Counterpose for Backbends
A yoga teacher recently messaged me, saying, “I had someone tell me that I was wrong to put my students in Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) after backbending and that I should be putting them in ‘knees to
Yoga for Neck Health: Exploring Brahma Mudra
The neck is a vital area for your overall health. It is the conduit between your head and body through which your spinal cord and several large blood vessels, as well as your large breathing tube and esophagus—your feeding tube—pass.
The Fire Element: Enlighten Up!
Fire is the element that governs transformation. It affects metabolism and the flow of energy supporting our ability to rest, work or play. It also sparks changes in how we think about and express our authenticity. We embody these ideas
Working with Injuries or Physical Limitations? An Invitation to Deepen Your Yoga Practice
If you stick with yoga long enough, and perhaps not even very long, you’ll certainly be dealing with the question of what’s the right thing to do when you get injured or sick. Do you forge ahead and get to