Be Right Where You Are: Master Your Version of Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
Ah, Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana). It’s one of the foundational postures of modern yoga, and you will probably find it in nearly every yoga class you attend. Because of that, you’ll probably find that different yoga styles approach this pose
Yoga for Arthritis - 8 Tips to Help Relieve Symptoms and Stay Active
After years of teaching high-impact aerobics, I found myself in the office of an orthopedic surgeon discussing knee surgery. I was frustrated and scared and told my doctor it wasn’t fair because I’d always been active and exercised. “Well, dear,
Yoga for Pain Relief: Is Pain Your Friend, Foe, Or A Painfully Honest Messenger?
Is it possible to practice yoga for pain relief? How do we prevent pain from yoga in the first place? And is it possible to befriend our pain in our yoga practice? Anyone who is suffering from chronic pain is
Yoga Anatomy: 6 Reasons Why the Diaphragm May Be the Coolest Muscle in the Body
I have a small confession to make: I love the study of human anatomy. Always have. It was studying human anatomy and physiology that made me shift my undergraduate degree at Gordon College away from Biology and into Movement Science
Yoga Practice Tips: Let’s Redefine 'Advanced Yoga'
In 30 years of teaching, I can't even begin to relate how many times I've heard people say that they can't do yoga because they're not flexible. Similarly, I wish I had a dollar for all the times I've heard
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.
Healthy Practice: Balancing Freedom and Restraint in Yoga
The work of legendary furniture designers Charles and Ray Eames has been described as a balance of freedom and restraint. Mr. Eames was once asked: “Have you ever been forced to accept compromises?” He responded: “I don’t remember ever being
Regulate Your Nervous System with Ayurveda
Healthy nervous system regulation is the ability to effectively navigate our emotional response to stressors. When presented with changes in life, someone with healthy regulation can adapt with minimal to no overwhelm or reactivity (e.g., anger outbursts, irritation, worry). A
A Yin Yoga Home Practice
I’ve taught Yin Yoga off and on for 15-20 years and I’m always finding new ways to appreciate this special way of practicing. Yin Yoga can serve as a welcome bridge between the fast-moving part of my life and my
What Is Somatic Yoga?
Somatics is a field of movement that emphasizes internal physical perception and experience. It’s based on the soma (or the body as perceived from within), so it’s a practice that deeply focuses on sensation and feeling to increase awareness, proprioception,
Yoga for Back Pain: Tips for Maintaining SI Joint Health
I must admit: before I started my Viniyoga teacher training, I’ve never heard of sacrum issues. Sure, I knew what the sacrum was, but my first yoga teacher training program never talked about it, my students never complained about it, I
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
5 Yoga Poses to Soothe Sciatic Pain
If you ever experienced sciatica, you are all too familiar with the searing pain that shoots down your leg, often accompanied by a burning sensation, numbness, or tingling. The pain can range from mildly annoying to severely debilitating. While not
Visualize and Mobilize: A Gentle Somatic Yoga Flow
Quantum physics has demonstrated that physical change can come about simply by using the mind’s creative ability to visualize. This is why practitioners of Gentle Somatic Yoga (GSY) are encouraged to creatively explore visualization techniques while engaging the practice’s various
Yoga and the Mind-Body Connection: How Your Mood Influences Pain Perception
You've probably experienced pain at some point in your life, yes? Maybe you felt a twinge in your lower back after doing deep backbends in a yoga class. Or maybe a computer-induced wrist condition kept you away from Sun Salutations