The Power of Perception: A Guide to Happier Living from the Yoga Sutras

Every moment of every day, you are bombarded by information from outside and inside your body. You take in outside information via the senses (perception) and internal information via sensations (interoception). It is the job of your brain to interpret

Rev Up Your Yoga Practice: Try This Seated Warm-Up Sequence

Although starting a longer practice while lying on the floor is my favorite way to go, starting from a sitting position is a close second, especially first thing in the morning if, after just getting out of bed, I don’t

10 Tips for New Yoga Teachers

For new yoga teachers, there are lots of points to take into consideration when planning and teaching classes. Remembering a sequence, student names, injuries, and correctly timing the class can all become overwhelming. These 10 tips will help you find

New Study: Is One Style of Yoga Better Than Another?

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular, with over 36 million practitioners in the U.S. alone. As the number of people practicing yoga is increasing, so are the number of different yoga styles offered. A single yoga studio might offer Hatha yoga,

Hyperextended Elbows: Here’s a Tip for Correcting Hyperextension

Aligning the bones accesses their inherent strength so that yoga poses ultimately require less muscular effort to maintain. For example, in a recent post, we gave a tip on using the big toes to correct the tendency for the pelvis to drift

Is Sitting Causing You Back Pain? 6 Harmful Posture Mistakes to Avoid

According to a study published in 2013 by the Mayo Clinic, back pain is the third most common cause of doctor visits in the United States. And according to American Family Physician, only 25 to 30 percent of people seek treatment for their back

Aging Brains Keep Producing New Cells Research Finds

Researchers at Columbia University find evidence that healthy older adults can generate as many new brain cells as younger people. Yoga may help. For well over a decade, research has shown that the brain is able to form new connections;

Let it Go: The Gateway to Serenity in Yoga Practice

“I just wanted to stay there forever—this pause feels so comfortable and peaceful,” said one of my students after a yoga practice designed around Patanjali’s yoga sutra 1.34: “The mind attains serenity through prolonged Exhalation and Suspension of breath.”  Whenever

Prenatal Yoga Practice: Tending to Your Physical, Mental and Emotional Energy

Among the awe-inspiring things about pregnancy are the ways a woman’s body morphs to accommodate her growing baby. Consider the fact that her skin can stretch over her growing belly, that her abdominal muscles expand to this new, remarkable length,

Yoga for Back Pain and Scoliosis: Keys to Addressing Spinal Imbalances with Yoga

Do you live with back pain or scoliosis? No matter the cause of your condition, a yoga practice that meets the needs of your unique spine may help! In this article, Certified Yoga Therapist Deborah Wolk, founder of the Samamkaya

Yoga Anatomy: Forward Head Posture - Part 1

Many injuries in America today result from on-the-job muscle/joint strain and overuse syndromes. Working in a technologically driven society has caused an explosive and expensive increase in work-related costs, with injuries occurring to categories of workers previously considered low risk

Yoga for Healthy Knees: Understanding Biomechanics Can Protect Your Knees in Lotus Pose

Yoga poses such as Padmasana (Lotus Pose) can take your knees to the limit of their natural mobility. It’s important to keep your knees safe in Padmasana. Knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics can help. While it’s true that an injury

One Size Fits All? Not For Yoga Teachers!

As a novelist, I’ve been blessed to meet many generous writers who have mentored me on the bumpy path to publication. Pretty much every seasoned writer I’ve met so far has given me one sage piece of advice: never read

Yoga Pose Primer: Plant Strong Roots with Palm Tree Pose!

Daily practice is the cornerstone of anyone’s yoga journey. But it’s not always easy to find a block of time to practice. Sometimes we have to take what we can get. On those days when our schedules are wall to

Jnana Yoga: Asking the Big Questions

I remember when I was young, I would look up at the stars in amazement and wonder what the hell was going on. Somehow the infinite space in the sky opened up space in my mind for big questions like

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