Natural Energy Boost with Yoga: 7 Steps to Practicing Camel Pose (Ustrasana)
Most of us work too much and rest too little. If you feel tired and lethargic, or even just a late afternoon energy dip, yoga can often provide a natural energy boost. A good option for this is Camel Pose. Revitalize
Myofascial Unwinding: What It Is and Why You Should Do It
Myofascial unwinding is a term coined by John Barnes to describe a type of physical movement that comes from a higher intelligence, which he often describes as a “feeling” (rather than a “thinking”) intelligence. I remember the first time I attended John’s
Simplify Your Yoga Cues to Increase Their Power
My original yoga “parentage” was in the Iyengar system. Known for its precision, and for inventing the yoga props we use today, the Iyengar system provides a fine foundation. In workshops, teachers—including B.K.S. Iyengar and his daughter, Geeta, who I
Tadasana: Mountain Pose - Free Online Yoga Video
Mountain Pose (Tadasana) is known as the blueprint pose for all of the standing poses in yoga. In other words, it sets the body up with correct alignment that is translatable to the other standing poses. This wonderful breakdown of
The Role of Fascia in Yoga and Movement - Free Webinar Series with Tom Myers
Could it be that most of what we’ve learned about muscle anatomy and the biomechanics of movement is wrong—or at the very least, not the full picture? For more than 400 years, the field of anatomy has been dominated by
Research Studies Document Benefits of Yoga for Depression
Each year, 17 million people, or 7 percent of American adults, experience at least one major depressive episode of two weeks duration or longer. Depression is also a common additional symptom of several other mental health problems. Major depressive disorder
Strengthen Your Bridge Pose with a Yoga Sandbag
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) is one of yoga’s most versatile poses. When I studied with B.K.S. Iyengar in India, variations of Bridge Pose were a go-to. For those of us who accidentally ingested parasites, Supported Bridge Pose was therapeutic. Setu
Peak Yoga Pose: A Sequence to Illuminate your Ardha Chandrasana
Nothing lights up the room better than a bright Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose). Before embarking on this celestial journey, one should ask, how do you get the room to illuminate if the half-moon seems more like a shooting star?
How Exercise Might Help Brain and Nervous System Health
“The research shows that using the legs, particularly in weight-bearing exercise, sends signals to the brain that are vital for the production of healthy neural cells, essential for the brain and nervous system. Cutting back on exercise makes it difficult
Strengthen Your Core with Yoga Balance Poses
Core strength and balance go hand-in-hand. When the “core” muscles around the trunk are strong, they prevent chronic lower back pain and many other injuries. They also keep you from losing your balance and falling down. A strong core helps
15 Natural Remedies For A Good Night's Sleep
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, about 30 percent of adults experience some form of insomnia. Some have trouble getting to sleep in the first place, while others wake up a few hours after retiring and can’t get
When Stretching Hurts: The Science of Connective Tissue
Whether you’re a yogi, runner, body builder, corporate CEO or aging baby boomer, there’s growing evidence that stretching offers numerous benefits for optimal health and performance. Regular stretching increases and maintains a healthy range of motion, it improves posture and
What Your Body Tells You Can Protect You From Stress, Study Suggests
Interoception refers to the capacity to accurately detect and interpret bodily cues. Some of these cues are obvious, such as when you accidentally touch a hot surface. But interoception also involves being aware of the body’s more subtle signals. Research
Beyond Endorphins and the Runner's High: Where Does Yoga Fit In?
I don’t know about you, but I love to have my understanding of some aspects of being human challenged or expanded by the newest discoveries and research. If you are like me, you have long heard that one reason we
Vital Vagus: What is the Vagus Nerve and What Does it Do?
The vagus nerve can be thought of as a superhighway that connects your body and your brain- a connection we talk about a lot in yoga! It innervates most organs in the body; the messages zip along its five lanes of