Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Yoga Sequence to Soothe Sore Wrists
There might not be any body parts that we consciously use more than the hands, wrists, and arms. That can make Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)—to put it bluntly—a real drag. In short, CTS causes pain, numbness, tingling, and reduced functioning
Just Be Present: Meditation Practice for Crazy Times
These are times of heightened change, disruption, uncertainty, fear, anxiety. It can feel pretty crazy for most of us. So how do we cope? What can we do in the middle of chaos and crisis? This is when meditation becomes
Want to Be Healthy? Relaxation is Key
Relaxation matters—big time. When I first encountered true whole-being relaxation, I was blown away. Following a 20-minute Somatics audio recording by Amy Matthews, I felt embedded in my skin and on the floor in a way I had never experienced.
That Darned Asymmetry: 5 Reasons to Love Your Imbalances
We are all out of balance to some degree. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) to the right may be a luxurious journey over smoothly oiled joints and long muscles. Turn to the left, and it feels like there’s sand in your joints
Don't Panic: How Yoga Can Help You Think Clearly in Times of Difficulty
By now, most of us are well aware of all the effects that stress can have on our bodies. For example, here are just some of the health problems that chronic stress can cause: heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure),
Flow In a Chair: An Accessible 5-Pose Sequence
Dynamic yoga classes can help practitioners breathe better and clear their minds of daily thought clutter. The constant movement can be meditative. Some of the chair yoga classes that I’ve attended were relatively static, so often, the meditative quality of the
Optimize Your Zoom Yoga Classes
Six months ago, who would have thought we’d find ourselves quarantined? The times are challenging us all, one way or another. My yoga studio has been closed since mid-March and will be closed at least until the end of April
Chronic Pain Relief: How Your Brain Processes Pain and How Yoga and Movement Can Help
When you sense and feel your body, you are better able to take care of yourself. It sounds simple, right? We are more likely to recognize if we feel hungry, thirsty, need to go to the bathroom, or need to
Fatigue Got You Down? Try This Restorative Yoga Sequence
Too tired. For many, it’s the default response to every request—even the fun ones. Some of the walking weary are simply too overworked or overstressed to get adequate rest. While others may feel drained by a physical ailment, a psychological
How to Take Intention to Creation: Planning a Yoga Class
I was educated as a school teacher. In the past, I had written my fair share of lesson plans that usually started with, “by the end of the class the students will be able to …” Every lesson needs to
Lost in Thought? Instead, Mind Your Thoughts
Over the past decades of mentoring people in mindfulness practice, the most common quandary I hear from novice meditators is this: “I can’t meditate. When I sit down to meditate, my mind becomes busier than ever. I thought meditation was
Navigating Uncertain Times: 6 Offerings of Gratitude
How do we take time out to feel grateful amidst the global tumult resulting from COVID-19? It has touched every aspect of our lives. We are in a state of collective shock. It’s hard not to be consumed by what
When Restorative Yoga is Not Enough: 4 Sequencing Tips for Calming Anxiety
She stomped up to me at the end of class, obviously pissed off. “I don’t know what you think this stuff is good for,” she barked. I was taken aback, “What’s wrong?” “Your poses,” she continued, hands-on-hips, “they do nothing
Tricky Triangle Pose: Learn to Protect Your SI Joints
Did you know that of the three simplest shapes, circle, square, and Triangle, only the Triangle completely reverses its symbolic meaning when it’s turned upside-down? Rotate a circle 90 degrees, and it still means wholeness, unity, inclusion, and infinity. A
Stress Management For When You're Stressed
“The antidote to stress is relaxation. To relax is to rest deeply. This rest is different from sleep. Deep states of sleep include periods of dreaming which increase muscular tension, as well as other physiological signs of tension. Relaxation is